Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says he has forgiven his estranged Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
The duo has been at loggerheads over Shaibu’s ambition to succeed his boss as Governor of the South South state.
The State’s helmsman does not support his deputy, and urged him to drop his ambition for peace to reign between them.
On at least two occasions, Shaibu was shut out of State functions, including the most recent one, when Governor Obaseki held a state executive council meeting in Lagos after he returned from abroad where he spent his leave.
Recall that the feud got to a head two weeks ago after Shaibu was shut out of his official office, and relocated to a less comfortable office accommodation close to the Government House.
The Deputy Governor later begged his boss, asking for his forgiveness.
“I use this medium to appeal to Mr Governor, if there is anything that I don’t know that I have done, please forgive me so that we can develop our state together,” he said in Benin while addressing journalists,” Shaibu begged.
The governor rejected all peace entreaties.
But waxing philosophical on Thursday, Governor Obaseki said he has forgiven his Deputy, saying “to err is human, forgiveness is divine.”
According to him, he hopes that Shaibu is truly remorseful after provoking him by going to Court to stop a supposed impeachment.
Obaseki said, “Although these unwarranted provocations caused me severe personal discomfort, as a person of faith, I am under obligation to accept this apology because as they say, “to err is human, to forgive is divine.”
“In good faith, I trust that the public apology as expressed by the Deputy Governor is genuine and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict resolution skills. I also enjoin the Deputy Governor to guide his proxies to act in accordance with his piety.
“It is my sincere hope and that of my other colleagues in Government and all well-meaning Edo people, that these rhetorics will be put to an end forthwith to enable this administration finish strong and deliver the dividends of democracy to the greatest number of Edo people over this final twelve (12) months.”
Meanwhile, those watching the drama in the State said more fireworks should be expected in no distant time, particularly as next year’s Governorship election in the state draws closer.
