Obaseki: I’ve not chosen my successor

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, says he has not appointed a successor ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.

Obaseki stressed that the process of choosing his successor ahead of the election must reflect fairness, equity, and a sense of inclusion, saying his administration’s focus is to finish strong.

The governor said this while addressing journalists in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Friday, September 29, 2023.

He said: “I am not in the position now to determine, appoint or anoint a successor.

“All I know is that in the process of seeking my successor, there must be fairness, equity, and a sense of inclusion because our goal is to keep Edo as one.

“The important thing for us as an administration is for us to finish strong and complete everything we told Edo people we would do for them during our campaigns.”

On his relationship with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, he said: “I have nothing personal against the deputy governor and never had.

READ ALSO: Obaseki: My deputy’s rift caused me discomfort

“For me, the issues are very straightforward.”

The relationship between Obaseki and Shaibu had gone frosty in recent times as the duo threw brickbats at themselves until the deputy governor apologised to his principal on September 21.

Governor Obaseki later accepted Shaibu’s apology saying “to err is human, while to forgive is divine”.

The governor was, however, silent on whether he would allow Shaibu to return to his office in the Government House.

Obaseki added: “I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

“The apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo stand for.

“To name a few, the deputy governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in courts, restraining me, the House of Assembly, and security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process.

“This followed repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and on the state government.

“Although, these unwarranted provocations caused me severe personal discomfort, as a person of faith, I am under obligation to accept this apology, because as they say, to err is human, to forgive is divine.

“In good faith, I trust that the public apology as expressed by the deputy governor is genuine, and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict-resolution skills.

“I also enjoin the deputy governor to guide his proxies to act in accordance with his piety.

“It is my sincere hope that this rhetoric will be put to an end to enable this administration to finish strong, over these final 12 months.”

The Star