Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Thursday, said he has accepted the public apology made by his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, and expressed hope that the apology is genuine.
Obaseki who noted that the unwarranted provocations by Shaibu caused him severe personal discomfort said, “as a person of faith, I’m 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.”
This was contained in a statement personally signed by the governor and made available to Blueprint in Benin City.
The letter read in parts: “I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Philip Shaibu. This apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo State 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.”
Shaibu had while pleading for forgiveness last week said: “I’m sorry my Governor and we need to keep working together” and added: “I appeal to the Governor, if there is anything that I don’t know I have done wrong, please forgive me.”
Obaseki and his deputy have been locked in bitter political feud after Shaibu asked the Abuja Federal High Court to stop the governor and the State Assembly from impeaching him.
The deputy governor had nonetheless withdrew the litigation, citing interventions from traditional rulers and religious leaders.
The governor who had denied the allegation has ever since avoided coming in close contact with his deputy both in public and private.
