9th April, 2024
By Adeyemi Adeleye
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Philip Aivoji has appealed to impeached Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, not to leave the party.
Aivoji, made the appeal in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos, following the impeachment of Shaibu by the Edo House of Assembly on Monday morning.
Shaibu was impeached following the adoption of the recommendation of a seven-man judicial panel led by retired Justice Stephen Omonua.
The removal of the deputy governor followed hiw disagreement with his boss, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, when he indicated interest to succeed the latter, the development which led to the a parallel party governorship primary in Feb.
Consequent upon Shaibu’s removal, Obaseki immediately appointed and swore in 38-year-old Mr Omobayo Godwin as his new deputy.
Reacting, Aivoji said that Shaibu should remain in the party in spite the development, and never to consider leaving the party at all.
He said that Shaibu could still become the governor of the state with perseverance and patience.
“What we are concerned about is winning Edo back for PDP. The impeached deputy governor needs to be patient and hand over everything to God.
“Whatever happens, no one ever can tell, he (Shaibu) can still become the governor in a future. He should not leave the party.
“That is my advice because it is the party that brought him up. When he became the deputy governor, there were millions of people who could have become the deputy governor before the party picked him.
“Since this has happened, he should look for a way of mending fences to actualise his dream of becoming the governor. He can still become the governor,” he said.
On whether or not the impeachment of Shaibu would affect the fortune of the party in the Sept. 21 governorship election in the state, Aivoji said he didn’t think so.
“If it would affect, they (the lawmakers) would not have taken that decision, ” he said.
Aivoji called on the Edo chapter PDP to work harder and block all necessary loopholes to win the election.
(NAN)