Philip Shaibu is the deputy governor of Edo State. In this interview, he speaks on the chances of PDP in the 2023 elections, how Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government is changing the state from a civil service state to an industrial one and his political career, among other issues.
The crisis rocking the PDP is yet to be resolved as the G-5 governors insist that the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must resign. Will this not affect its chances in the 2023 elections?
From my little experience in politics, I can tell you that this presidential election is for the PDP to win. I also believe that among the candidates contesting, and not just because I am a PDP member, Atiku stands out in terms of experience. We are looking for a president who is mentally stable, physically fit, and experienced, because if you are not mentally and physically stable, it would be difficult for you to perform.
We are looking for a president that will hit the ground running from day one and from May 29, his policies are out and their implementation starts immediately. That is what Nigerians need now.
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When you look at them (the presidential candidates), Atiku is the only one that has a blueprint of what he wants to achieve for Nigeria, he is the only one that has a campaign timetable and kick-started his campaign from day one. He was waiting for INEC to blow the whistle, and he started.
There is a crisis in the Edo State chapter of the PDP said to be fueled by River State governor, Nyesom Wike, who is backing Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South South. It seems Governor Obaseki is losing out to Orbih, as his candidates for the National Assembly election are not on the INEC list. What is your take on this?
I wouldn’t want to talk about Wike, but I will tell you that his action will give Atiku sympathy votes. You can see how experienced, patient and mature Atiku has been handling what Wike has been doing. That is the kind of president we want; a president that can tolerate the bad, the good and the ugly.
What Wike is doing is increasing Atiku’s popularity and bringing the best out of Atiku.
Are you saying the Edo PDP is united?
Edo PDP is one and united and has no problem. You can see it from Atiku’s rally recently. All PDP members came to receive our incoming president. Even if we want to do a roll call of who was there, the crowd was overwhelming, and for a long time, we haven’t seen such a crowd.
We are not relying on that crowd, what we are relying on is the unity of purpose for all of us. I can tell you that we are on the side of the law, and when you are on the side of the law, you can go to sleep.
There are allegations that Edo people are not benefiting from the government of Obaseki as contractors and consultants are brought in from Lagos. How will you respond to that?
This government is not the government of handouts, which has destroyed the Nigerian economy. This government is purposeful and believes that you earn a living. In the recent past, when you came to the government house, under the mango tree, you saw a lot of young men and women who were senior special assistants earning money for doing nothing.
This government came to clear that and said you must be useful to yourself and the state, and that is the only way we can experience growth. So, those of them who are speaking like that are still in the past; we are now in a new millennium and a new way of doing things.
We have young men who are graduates from our Edo production and technology park and are now earning dollars from what they have learnt. We are converting Yahoo boys to be useful to themselves and earn legitimate money. Some of them, from their houses, now earn between $5,000 and $10,000 a month, and are now on the verge of creating applications that other people will rely on to sell their businesses.
After serving out your tenure as deputy governor in 2024, what will be your next move?
My politics will not end as deputy governor. That is not the contract I signed with God and the people, but where I am going next is in the hands of God. I don’t want to be distracted by what will happen in 2024.
I believe in God and first thing first. The first thing now is 2023, and when we are done with 2023, God will show us direction.
What is the legacy your government is bequeathing to Edo people?
The legacy we want to leave is law and order. A state where land grabbers are not lords, a state where traditional rulers and government are working together to make sure that things work for the best interest of our people.
Once there is law and order, you will have peace, and when you have peace, people can conveniently come and invest in our communities.
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