Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, announced on Sunday his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, over the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata. Shaibu cited Okpebholo’s deep local roots and understanding of the community’s needs as key reasons for his endorsement.
Speaking to journalists at the St. Paul Catholic Church in Benin City during the Fathers’ Day celebration, Shaibu explained that the candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, represents a return to godfatherism, a practice that has been abolished in Edo State’s political landscape since the tenure of former governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Shaibu stated, “I am a very good learner, and learning is what is most important in our lives. We must continue to learn till we die.
The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, says everybody has the right to support whoever they want, but he also forgot that he doesn’t have the right to stop anybody from supporting whoever they want. It is my right to decide who I want to support.”
Shaibu emphasized his preference for a “homeboy,” someone who understands the local issues and the people’s needs.
“I came into the contest as a homeboy, but today, we have only two homeboys in the major political parties; one in the Labour Party (LP) and one in the All Progressives Congress (APC). I chose to follow the homeboy in the APC.
The man they are parading in the PDP is an outsider and we have agreed that no more godfatherism in Edo. The PDP candidate is the godson of Obaseki, and there is no way a godson can be governor of Edo State again.”
Addressing potential accusations of anti-party activity since he remains a PDP member, Shaibu said, “No, it is not anti-party because in the last election, the governor was one leg in the Labour Party and one leg in the PDP, so it can’t be anti-party now.”
On the capability of Okpebholo, Shaibu asserted, “Enough of English that takes us nowhere. We are talking about governance, the man who understands the plight of the people. He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. A man who has never voted, how can he be seeking our vote? And we are comparing him to a sitting senator who is a homeboy.
When Akpata and Akpakomiza get home to their people, they speak their language. I have chosen one out of the two because I see Akpakomiza as an innocent politician, someone who is grassroots-oriented and truly a homeboy.”
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