Globaltimes 
Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, has stated that his decision to run for the governorship election in 2024 is motivated by the need to address the developmental challenges of the state through practical governance.
Speaking at a media parley with the Edo State Journalists Forum in Abuja, Shaibu emphasized that his experience, capacity, and knowledge set him apart from other contenders who aspire to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki, as his second term in office will soon come to an end.
Despite calls for power to return to Edo Central Senatorial District after a 16-year rotation between Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki, Shaibu clarified that there is no convention or agreement regarding zoning.
He also pointed out that since the return to democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party has not yet awarded its governorship ticket to any aspirant from Edo North.
He said, “Edo people are in dire need of practical governance, and we cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics and needs of Edo State.
“Everywhere, including the international scene, people are clamouring that governments should not be pushing projects that are not needed. So, we need to do Needs assessment. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them. For me, competence and experience should be the watchword. Who is competent, more experienced and who will hit the ground running from day one if he becomes Governor? Are we going to experiment with a new person again and the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and the next four years trying to embezzle and set up businesses in the name of consolidating on his first term?
“I have been in the system. I understand the debt profile of Edo State and I know where I can get funding to put up structures in the State. I am not coming to learn on the job. I am not coming to experiment. The problem we have had in the system is that we have had too many seminars, workshops but there is no time to implement the outcome of these seminars.”
Dismissing the notion that he is bent on succeeding Governor Obaseki at all cost, the Deputy Governor said, “I am not insisting on contesting. The ambition of becoming Deputy Governor was not mine but I made myself available. The ambition to be Governor is still not mine but I am only making myself available. Don’t forget that the destinies of the people are connected and interwoven.
“There is no convention in Edo State on the issue of zoning, politically, traditionally or at conferences where we met to say this is how we want to have our politics zoned
