Ahead of the 2024 governorship race in Edo State, a political pressure group over the weekend urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to look within his cabinet for a successor for the continuity and sustainability of his developmental strides in the state.
The group, under the aegis of Edo Democratic Watch (EDW), argued that its position was informed by the need to sustain the successes achieved by the Obaseki-led administration.
To achieve the sustainability of the successes, the EDW zeroed in on the deputy governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, who is rumoured to be interested to succeed his boss, to declare to contest for the governorship.
The coordinator of the group, Imade Joseph, in a statement issued in Benin over the weekend, and made available to newsmen, said Shaibu, over the years, had shown “capacity, experience, intellectual acumen, and political dexterity in stabilizing the state,” noting that Edo “is in a hurry to attain developmental height and cannot afford an inexperienced person that will come and learn the rudiments of governance on the job.”
“The deputy governor, in our estimation, has played a pivotal role in stabilizing the present government, and looking at his political antecedent, he is well positioned to succeed Obaseki. He is a stabilizing factor to the key achievements of this government”, the group intoned.
Meanwhile, a source close to Shaibu said that the deputy had been under immense pressure to contest the 2024 governorship election.
The source noted that different support groups at home and in the Diaspora had offered to purchase the governorship nomination form and present the same to him at the right time.
When asked about agitation that Edo Central should produce Obaseki’s successor, the source said, “There is nothing like it is the turn of Edo Central, Edo North or South. As we speak, a lot of notable politicians, even from Edo Central, are urging the deputy to run. I think the Constitution should guide us on this matter.
The deputy governor could not be reached to speak on his speculated governorship ambition or if he would eventually cave in to pressure to contest the governorship election.
SuyiAttempt to get the reaction of his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Musa Ebomhiana, proved abortive.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then