OFFICIAL: ‘I’m Unstoppable’ — Shaibu Dares Governor Obaseki, Joins Edo Governorship Race

Few days after various hotels in Edo State denied him an opportunity in the last minutes to use their halls for declaration, Edo Deputy Governor, Frank Shaibu has dared the governor by declaring for the governorship race of 2024.

Hotels had cancelled bookings the deputy governor made for what reports said was for fear of Governor Godwin Obaseki over their political differences.

The governor had said he would not support Shaibu’s bid to succeed him, which has caused serious conflicts between them.

They are not in speaking terms despite repeated overtures from the deputy governor and interventions from the party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and other political stakeholders within the state and in Abuja.

Yet, the deputy governor officially held his declaration on Monday at the Bishop Kelly Centre, Benin City, declaring, “I’m Unstoppable.”

He had earlier declared that he would not learn on the job in an apparent jibe at the governor.

Speaking with selected group of journalists from Edo State in Abuja last Saturday, Shaibu had 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?”

And on Monday he doubled down on why he wants to succeed Obaseki despite feisty relationship declaring, “Nobody can stop my ambition.”

He added, “I just want to appreciate all of you. We have started the journey and I decided together with all of us that after the consultation, we needed to make the answer to our consultation known to Edo people and the answer is clear.

“They (Edo people) have asked me to go and run and they said I am the one they see not just as a street boy but original own boy that can live there.

“I can assure you that by the grace of God, we will deliver practical governance,” he said.

He promised to “hit the ground running,” and to depart from the past.

There were last minutes confusion over the declaration following refusal of Eterno Hotel to grant him the request of using its facility on the excuse that the governor would be using it for an official engagement.