‘Emilokan’ can’t win elections in Edo, Obaseki tells deputy

• The governor and his deputy are said to be at loggerheads over the former’s successor
• Obaseki said the ‘Emilokan’ slogan will not win elections in the state

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has taken a swipe at his deputy, Philip shaibu, over his purported governorship ambition.

The governor and his deputy are said to be at loggerheads over the former’s successor.

Speaking when he received the leaders of Edo South Senatorial District at the Government House, Obaseki said no one can become governor of the state by utter sense of entitlement.

Obaseki said the ‘Emilokan’ slogan will not win elections in the state.

President Bola Tinubu used ‘Emilokan’ during his presidential election campaign.

However, Obaseki said: “Edo people will not accept ‘Emilokan’ as a strategy in government as they are not known for that. For us, it is the people that will decide.

“What has happened in the last few months is strange, and even if you have ambition, this is not the time to express it. The timetable for the election is not out. You can’t be part of a government and also be the one to destabilise the same government.

“I thought we came together and will leave together and let the people say you have done a great job, and they will now make the decision themselves. They are the ones to say that come rain or sunshine, we must continue.

“You are telling the world one thing and yet doing another. You are loyal to your principal and yet you are in Court with your principal. Everybody has the right to be ambitious but do it the right way.”

Obaseki was apparently speaking about Philip Shaibu, his deputy. Shaibu recently dragged his principal to court to stop him from removing him from office.

The Governor had accused his deputy of manipulating youth council elections to favour his ambition of succeeding him.