Governor Obaseki Forgives, Reconciles With Deputy, Shaibu

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has forgiven his deputy, Philip Shaibu after weeks of political crisis between the two leaders in the state.

In August, VerseNews reported that there were allegations that the deputy had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in preparation for the 2024 governorship election in the state.

Consequently, the deputy was denied access into the government house and was given a separate office within the vicinity to operate from.

In a video which went viral on the internet, the deputy governor was restricted from meeting with the governor by his security details at an event.

There was allegation that the video where the deputy governor was locked outside the gate of the government’s office was stage managed to put governor in a bad light.

But, having realised his mistakes for peace to reign between the two, Shaibu, last week made a public apology to the governor to forgive and forget all that transpired.

“I use this medium to appeal to Mr Governor, if there is anything that I don’t know that I have done, please forgive me so that we can develop our state together,” he said in Benin while addressing journalists.

The governor, reacting to the episodes in a statement he personally signed described as unwarranted provocations, the petitions signed by his deputy restraining him and security agencies from beginning impeachment proceedings.

He also described the purported impeachment as non-existent, saying he is under obligation to accept the apology.

He said, “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.”

“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 twelve (12) months.“