Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says he has accepted the public apology by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, but noted that “his aberrant behaviour contradicts what the people of Edo stand for.
“To name a few, the deputy governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in the Nigerian courts restraining me, the State House of Assembly and Security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process
“This was followed by repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and the State Government.
“The media frenzy as a result of the above and more, provided an impression of crises that has been precarious and distasteful to Edo people in the State and across the world.”
The governor’s acceptance of Shaibu’s public apology is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin.
Obaseki said that he had accepted the apology “as a person of faith”.
He, however, added that “I trust that the public apology as expressed by Shaibu is genuine and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict resolution skills.”
“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.”
“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.
“This is 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,” he said. (NAN)
