The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, suspended his governorship ambition to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21 election in the state.
Shaibu stated this at the Afemai World Congress in Detroit, Michigan, the United States on Sunday.
He accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of frustrating his governorship bid.
He expressed confidence that he would try again in the future, citing his youthful age as an advantage.
In a video clip made available by the congress organizers, Shaibu endorsed Okpebholo as a better candidate than Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is backed by Obaseki.
He described Okpebholo as “a breath of fresh air” who is “not contaminated yet” and praised his ability to “talk less and do more.”
Shaibu also called on the diaspora community to take an active interest in Nigerian politics, sharing his personal experience of being impeached and reinstated as deputy governor.
He attributed his political journey to God’s guidance and expressed hope for a better future for Edo State.
READ ALSO:Edo Deputy Gov Shaibu opens up on real reason for fallout with Obaseki
He said: “Elections are coming and I would like you to be interested. You see that I have moved from the PDP back to the APC. I moved to the PDP because of the governor (Obaseki) and I am back in the APC because of the governor.
“I wanted to become the governor and they said they would destroy me if I continued to nurse that ambition. They have done everything but God has kept me alive.
“I was impeached but I knew I would come to this programme as the deputy governor. I have been reinstated and my impeachment was part of intimidation and harassment, which I have gone through. We must begin to look for ways to salvage our country.
“I am supporting the APC candidate because he is a breath of fresh air and he is not contaminated yet. He doesn’t speak too much English. He talks less and does more and he is the first person to break the jinx in Edo Central by winning the Senate seat on the platform APC.
“The same scenario that made him a senator is playing out now. It is obvious that the grace of God is upon him. I have played my card, we are still young. If God says I will be governor, then I will be. I have left my ambition to God and we will make Afemai and Edo State, the land of our dream.”
By backing Okpebholo, Shaibu has effectively put his governorship ambition on hold, opting to support a candidate he believes has a better chance of winning the election.
This move has significant implications for the political landscape in Edo State as the governorship election approaches.
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