Shuaibu and his boss, Gov Obaseki fell out prior to the Edo guber election and have been having a long-running battle since then
By Kehinde Okeowo
Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu has reacted to the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Edo State.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo as the winner of Saturday’s Edo gubernatorial poll.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, said that the APC candidate secured 291,667 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Kuta declared, “That Okpebholo, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
Reacting to the announcement on Arise Television on Monday, Shuaibu said he felt vindicated with the outcome of the poll.
He said, “I feel vindicated and I thank God for it. I am water, I don’t have an enemy, unfortunately, those who decided that they are enemies, I have always prayed for them to live long and see how Go’s miracle continues to work in my life.”
ALSO READ: Oshiomhole speaks after Okpebholo’s victory, says ‘What God cannot do does not exist’
Describing himself as a team player, the deputy governor who has had a long-running battle with the incumbent governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki said he likes to deliver on his responsibilities at all times.
“I am a team player, I am somebody who likes to do my work the way it should be and if I make mistake, it is a human mistake not out of envy or wickedness.
“Yesterday, I was so excited and happy that I was counted among the numbers that have helped APC take power in Edo state, I have also cancelled that blackmail and negative impression flying, that Philip Shuaibu does not win his ward.
“I have never lost my ward, I have never lost my unit,” the deputy gov added.
Also claiming to have garnered the highest vote from his unit, Shuaibu chided Obaseki for failing to clinch his local government area.
Shuaibu further stated, “Even the governor couldn’t win his local government. I won my unit, ward and local government.
“Where are the governor’s results? He has never won; we always assisted him. What is left now is for him to go back and start begging and apologising to the people of Edo.”
