- You’re already my chairman, ex-deputy governor tells APC chairman
There are indications that the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, might join the All Progressives Congress after his impeachment.
Immediately Shaibu’s impeachment was made public, the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Jarrett Tenebe, paid him a courtesy visit where he assured him of the party’s readiness to walk with him in his struggle to wage legal battle against the state governor, Godwin Obaseki and the State House of Assembly.
Tenebe who likened Shaibu’s fate to that of Jesus Christ, asked him to pursue the matter in court, reiterating APC’s commitment to collaborate with him.
In a video of their meeting sighted by The Point, Tenebe while empathizing with Shaibu, a member of the People’s Democratic Party, said, “I came to pay you this solidarity visit because I still see you as the Edo Deputy Governor. The sham they did at the House of Assembly is a disgrace to the governor; it is an aberration to our democracy which I know that the court will not allow it to stand.”
“You (Shaibu) are somebody who stood out. The price you just paid today is a price for Benin; it is a price of loyalty. You are loyal even to the detriment of the people you started with. You paid that price. Easter just came and passed and we know the price Jesus Christ paid. He died for our sins. What has happened to you is a replica of what Jesus Christ did; he died for our sins. Today, they removed you as the Deputy Governor and we still regard you as the Deputy Governor. It is a price you have paid to ensure that Obaseki and his semblance are rooted in governance.
“I can tell you that we will not allow you to walk alone. We are with you, in spirit, in any way it comes to, we are with you. You are a strong guy. I am here as the Chairman of Edo State APC. You should be strong. I encourage you to continue to pursue this matter in court and we will be with you all through. God is your strength. I can assure you.”
He added, “When one door closes, many more are opened. Many doors are open for you (Shaibu) from today. That is what detractors don’t know. When they think your end has come, more doors are open.”
Responding, Shaibu expressed his delight to reunite with the APC chairman, saying, “Thank you very much. My chairman, the APC chairman, Edo State and my brother, the one we have shared everything with, both good and bad together. I am deeply humbled, happy and joyous that even this occasion has brought us together as one that we are.
“You are one person I have always admired, somebody that I grew up with. The person that separated us has also reunited us and that is the beauty of what has happened. And I want to assure you that as we move on, I am by the grace of God humbled and I am also happy just like you said that this whole thing happened between Lent and Ramadan and the lesson of Lent and Ramadan is obvious.
“I am not ready to change my attitude. I am ready to be a loyal friend, loyal partner. What has happened has to do with my quest to be loyal to anybody I will work with and I encourage everybody to be loyal to their bosses. I was a loyal person and I am still loyal and the price of loyalty is always success.
“Impeachment that has happened has happened because God wants to open a new chapter and I see that new chapter and I see that opportunity. Obviously, I can assure you, my chairman that… I call you my chairman because you are already my chairman. I think you are one of the reasons they had to hurriedly do the impeachment because they know what it takes for you and me to be together. I thought they would use the impeachment to get me to succumb but you know that I won’t succumb.
“I am somebody of strong will. When I mean something, I go for it and when I look at all of them, I see that I am paying a price as you said and that price, God will definitely reward. I also believe that it is only the man that God impeached that is impeached. I want to assure you of my cooperation and my loyalty will always remain my weapon and I will always be there at all times. By the grace of God, we will get there.”
