Omobayo Godwins, the newly appointed deputy governor of Edo State, has vowed not to share authority with Godwin Obaseki, the state governor.
He declared that he would solely carry out the governor’s instructions.
This was revealed by the 38-year-old former House of Representatives candidate for the Labour Party during a Monday appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today Program.
Following Philip Shaibu’s dismissal by the state legislature for allegedly disclosing state government secrets, Godwins took the oath of office.
The new deputy governor expressed satisfaction with the position of deputy governor being reduced to a “spare tyre,” saying, “It’s okay with me.” We live in a process. I am a deputy governor already at the age of 37. My political perspective has evolved, and I’m not in a rush to contend with my governor.
“Whatever he says I should is what I will do. He knows my strength. So, I will dwell on my strength when it comes to adding value. Politically, I am learning on the job.”
Godwins claimed that he was contacted to take up the role of deputy governor by the Peoples Democratic Party organization in the state.
He said, “Becoming a deputy governor wasn’t expected. I was expecting to run for House of Reps in 2027 after losing in 2023. It is an act of God. I am happy about this and promise to be a model for Edo youths.
“PDP contacted me to be the deputy governor to Obaseki. Although, I have been following him for a very long time. Even though I was in the Labour Party, I was willing to pitch a tent with the PDP because of him and Ighodalo.”
To increase the chances of Ighodalo, who is from Ewohimi in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of the Edo Central Senatorial District, Godwins stated that he has strong grassroots support from his base in Akoko Edo, one of the local governments in the Edo North Senatorial District.
“My style of politicking is different. That I contested under the flagship of the Labour Party is not a thing to think about; it was about me. I went to over 46 communities in Akoko Edo to vote for me, and they accepted me.”
Godwins emphasized to his constituents that his short-term tenure would not matter; what matters is the quantity of impacts he would make in his capacity as deputy governor.
The deputy governor, he continued, was one of the political ploys used by Ighodalo to beat his closest rivals, including Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Olumide Akpata of the Labor Party, months before Obaseki’s eight-year term came to an end.
He reacted to Shaibu’s impeachment by saying, “You know, that’s politics.” First and foremost, you have a duty of loyalty.
