FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
The embattled deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has begged his principal, Governor Godwin Obakeki, for forgiveness over their political differences.
Shaibu, who disclosed this in an interview with few journalists in his Benin City residence on Thursday, asked Governor Obaseki to forgive and forget.
He said: “We’ve resumed but there’s still a lot of work to be done. There is no problem about that. The governor has asked us to go there and we are going.”
He insisted that as a loyal servant to the governor, he took a personal vow to support Governor Obaseki, noting that as a Catholic he is not in the habit of violating his oath.
The deputy governor begged the governor to forgive him if he had in anyway offended him, adding that it’s because he is human and not deliberate.
Comrade Shaibu said: “I am a loyal servant. I took a personal vow to support my governor. If I make a vow, there is nothing about me that changes it.
“I am missing my governor. I only wish that we should come back together I pray that God should touch the governor’s heart. God should touch our hearts. Even those who are trying to, keep us apart, God should also touch their hearts.”
He continued: If there’s any mistake that I made, it’s because I am human and not deliberate. I’ll use this medium to appeal to the governor to forgive me, if there’s any way I have offended him. I say I am sorry.
The deputy governor conceded that he knew from the very start deputy governors are like spare tires but he made up his mind when he was leaving the House of Representatives to contest for the deputy governorship, that he was going to make a difference.
Looking back, Comrade Shaibu said that he has succeeded in keeping the faith with Governor Obaseki in the last seven years and hope to stay by him in every kind of weather till November next year when their tenure expire.
He reiterated: “Mr. Governor, if there’s anything you feel I have done wrong, I say sorry. Please forgive me I have a very clear heart
Meanwhile, a visit to the residence of the deputy governor in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), by some Journalists who wanted to verify a statement that deputy was working from home proved abortive as the Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, turned them back .
Efforts by correspondents of major national dialies to get the aides to atleast react to the development was unsuccessful as they remained very hostile towards newsmen saying they were acting on orders from above.
At this point they only allow guests on appointment comprising visitors from the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) who were visibly on ground to visit the Deputy Governor were allowed acess to the residence.