I’m Learning On The Job, I Won’t Hesitate To Do All That My Principal Instructs Me To Do, Says Dep Gov Marvellous
By EDITOR
Edo State new Deputy Governor, Engr. Marvellous Omoayo Godwins has pledged his unalloyed loyalty to his new principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki in the few months they will work together before the end of the governor’s eight-year double terms on November 12, 2024.
The 37-year-old, who was sworn in yesterday, Monday 8th April, 2024 after the State Assembly impeached Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor, was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Marvellous said he is learning on the job and won’t hesitate to do all that his principal instructs him to do.
When asked if he is satisfied that the role of a deputy governor has been relegated to a “spare tire”, Marvellous said, “It’s okay with me. Life is a process. At 37+, I am already a deputy governor, it has improved my political outlook and I am not in a rush to drag with my governor. Whatever he say I should is what I will do. He knows my strength. So, I will dwell on my strength when it comes to adding value. Politically, I am learning on the job.”
Why I Dumped Labour Party For PDP – Dep Gov. Maarvellous
According to Marvellous, I left the Labour Party to support the governorship aspiration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer for the September 21 Edo Governorship election, Barr. Asue Ighodalo.
Deputy Governor Godwins was unambiguous that his becoming deputy governor, months to the expiration of the eight-year tenure of Godwin Obaseki, was part of the political permutations for Ague Ighodalo to defeat his closest contenders like Olumide Anthony Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) and Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Marvellous boasted that he has robust grassroots support from his base in Akoko-Edo, one of the local governments in the Edo North Senatorial District, to boost the chances of Asue Ighodalo, who hails from Ewohimi in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District.
On Shaibu’s impeachment, he said, “That is politics for you. Your job first of all is to be loyal.”
Impeached Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu
‘Attack On Democracy’
Meanwhile, Shaibu has rejected his impeachment by the lawmakers, describing it as a threat to democracy.
“This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear,” he said
“It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Shaibu was Obaseki’s deputy from November 12, 2016 till April 8, 2024 when he was unceremoniously removed following a protracted rift between the two former political allies.
For about one year, Governor Godwin Obaseki and former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu had been engaged in counter-accusations as their once-smooth relationship completely broke down. The governor had claimed that Shaibu was planning a “coup” to unseat him while the labour leader also accused his principal of instigating the state assembly to impeach him.
Shaibu, who contested the PDP governorship primary, had declared himself a winner in a paralle election afer the parrty announced businessman Barr. Asue Ighodalo the party’s flag bearer.
Source: channelstv
