Edo Deputy Governor Advocates for Practical Governance Ahead of 2024 Election

• Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu calls for a competent and experienced leader in the 2024 election, emphasizing practical governance
• Shaibu opposes experimental leadership, urging a governor who understands state needs and can address them immediately

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, emphasized the need for practical, not experimental, governance in a press statement on Sunday in Abuja. With the 2024 Edo Governorship Election approaching, Shaibu stressed the importance of choosing a leader who understands the intricacies of the state’s politics and the aspirations of its people.

In his address to the media, Shaibu highlighted the global call for governments to focus on essential projects relevant to their environments. He stated, “Assessing everything we do is crucial. Understanding the needs of the people requires living among them. Competence and experience should be the watchwords as we approach the 2024 election. We need a governor who is competent, experienced, and ready to hit the ground running from day one.”

The deputy governor, who has indicated an interest in the Edo governorship race, raised concerns about experimenting with a new leader who might spend the initial term learning on the job. He urged for a leader who would immediately address the needs of the state without a prolonged learning curve.

Shaibu emphasized the necessity of collaboration between the state and the Federal Government for any government to succeed. He expressed his understanding of the state’s debt profile and outlined his plans to secure funding for state projects without a steep learning curve.

Addressing the challenges in the Edo system, Shaibu criticized the prevalence of seminars, workshops, and programs without subsequent implementation of their outcomes. He advocated for a more practical approach to governance, ensuring that proposed solutions are effectively implemented.

On the issue of rotational governorship among the state’s three zones, Shaibu clarified that there had never been any formal convention on zoning. While expressing his support for fairness and equity, he pointed out the need for those advocating for these principles to have clean hands.

Shaibu concluded by stating that his ambition to be governor was not a personal one but a commitment to making himself available for the service of the people.