The Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu says he is optimistic that he will get the 2024 People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship ticket in the state.
The Deputy Governor stated this at a media parley with the Edo State Journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“I am still consulting and in the coming days, the outcome of my consultation will be made public. My first option is PDP, second option is PDP and the third is PDP. PDP wants to win the election and if it must win the election, the party must listen to the voice of the people. I have told them that I am a PDP member and i am sure I will get the PDP ticket. They are mobilising for me to get the ticket, he explained
While answering questions from journalists, he said Edo people are in dire need of practical governance, and “we cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics and needs of Edo State”.
According to him, experience, capacity, and knowledge are some of the factors that separate him from anyone desirous of succeeding Governor Godwin Obaseki.
On Zoning
Shaibu said there is no convention or agreement that speaks on zoning, adding that since the return to democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party was yet to give its governorship ticket to any aspirant from Edo North.
“For me, competence and experience should be the watchword who is competent, more experienced, and who will hit the ground running from day one if he becomes governor? Are we going to experiment with a new person again and the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and the next four years trying to embezzle and set up businesses in the name of consolidating on his first term,” he stated.
“If you check the structures of those that have been Governors in Edo State, there is no where you will see the issue of zoning. We had four Governors from Edo South, two from Edo Central and only one from Edo North. When you look at the PDP, the party has never given its Governorship ticket to any candidate from Edo North, If I get the ticket of the PDP, I will be the first candidate of the PDP from Edo North since 1999,” Shaibu said.
Embezzlement
“If I get the PDP ticket, the people will see my street credibility. I am not going into governorship to build estates. The only estate I owe my children is their education. Those who know me know that I am not a friend to bankers. I have sunk boreholes and renovated many schools with private monies as Deputy Governor.
You saw the Oghieneni’s Palace that we built in my area. I am a project driven person, I have built churches and mosques.
He added that he was not an advocate of keeping money in the banks because he has a Catholic background and also has conscience.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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