Obaseki: My deputy’s rift caused me discomfort

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, says the rift between him and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, caused him severe personal discomfort.

Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over the latter’s governorship ambition ahead of the 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State.

The deputy governor, last week, apologised to his principal for forgiveness over their political differences.

However, the governor, in a letter titled, ‘Re: Public Apology By The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu’, and made available to newsmen on Thursday, September 28, 2023, said the rift between them led to crises that were precarious and distasteful to the people of Edo State and across the world.

He added that he has accepted the public apology made by his deputy, noting that as a person of faith, he was under obligation to accept the apology.

READ ALSO: ‘I’m sorry’: Edo deputy governor apologises to Obaseki

Governor Obaseki said in good faith, he trusts that the public apology as expressed by Shaibu is genuine and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict resolution skills.

Obaseki stated: “I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu. This apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo State stand for.

“To name a few, the Deputy Governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in the Nigerian courts restraining me, the State House of Assembly, and security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process, followed by repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and the State Government. The media frenzy as a result of the above and more, provided an impression of crises that have been precarious and distasteful to Edo people in the State and across the world.

“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’.”

The governor added: “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 and that of my other colleagues in government and all well-meaning Edo people, that these rhetorics will be put to an end forthwith to enable this administration finish strong and deliver the dividends of democracy to the greatest number of Edo people over this final 12 months.”

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Segun Ojo

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