Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, has dared his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, by stating his intention to run for governor.
The Deputy Governor, who has been at odds with his boss, has declared his intention to run for governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Philip, who was recently ousted from the Deputy Governor’s Lodge, explained his decision by saying, “Edo needs a practical leader.”
He stated that Obaseki, who has been governor of the state for nearly eight years, was an experimental governor.
Addressing reporters in Benin City, Philip said,
“With the 2024 Edo governorship election fast approaching, the state cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics of the state or the needs of the people.
“Edo people need practical governance and you cannot experiment again with somebody that does not understand the politics of a good state and the needs of the people.
“So, everything we have to do should be assessed. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them. So for me, competence and experience should be the watchwords as we go into the election in 2024.
“Who is competent? Who is more experienced? Who will hit the ground running from day one?
“Are we going to experiment with a new person again? And the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and he will spend another four years trying to embezzle, set up his businesses in the name of consolidating on the gains of the first term.
“Or do we need a governor that from day one will hit the ground running?”