Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu says he cannot be intimidated by the state’s September 21 gubernatorial election.
Shaibu stated this when he returned his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form for the gubernatorial election, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
The lieutenant governor, who claimed that some elders in the party had been bought off, was pleased that the youth and some elders strongly supported him.
“By the grace of God, our support is organic, not acquired. I’m not a wannabe they’re pushing; I am not an isolated aspirant from the people.
“People of Edo, voters know me, touch me and feel me. We’ve already addressed the godfather issue, but it rears its ugly head again.
“I am happy that the governor told us that even if he tries to impose someone on us as a new godfather, we must deal with him.
“We abide by the mandate of the people. My support is organic and with Shaibu, the PDP will retain his seat in Edo State,” he said.
‘Edo about to be kidnapped again’
Shaibu said the journey to rescue Edo began in 2006 and that he and others were aware of what they wanted to achieve. Hello
“We said that we needed to recover our state and return it to the people and indeed we recovered the state and returned it to the people.
“On the way, something happened and the State is about to be hijacked again and we said no.
“This election is another challenge, they want to take the state away from the people of Edo and give it back to the businessmen and we say no because Edo state cannot return to Egypt.”
The deputy governor said the only way Edo State can move forward is for political power to reside with the people.
“The PPD says power to the people and not power to friends or business colleagues.”
Shaibu said he was in the race not because of excessive ambition, but because of his desire to save Edo from “businessmen” who wanted to take over the state.
He expressed confidence that if he was awarded the PDP candidacy, that party would not only win the elections but Edo would become a landmark in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Return as governor – Osunbor
He said he had already developed a plan for what he wanted to do when he was elected governor of the state.
“I have already created a committee on what we are going to do. “I understand people’s feelings.”
The PPD preaches peace
At the party secretariat, the PDP deputy secretary of national organisation, Pascal Adigwe, while acknowledging Mr Shaibu’s record of achievements, urged him and other PDP aspirants to embrace peace in the pursuit of their ambitions.
“We know you like we know others. We hope and believe that you will run well in this race. We’re just praying for peace.
“Let’s go to the primaries and, ultimately, to the elections, putting peace first.
“Let us consider the desires of the people we want to govern, how do they want to be governed? “We can design our aspirations and ambitions around what people want.”