Edo State deputy governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday declared he was an Ambassador of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Shaibu made the declaration shortly after he officially commissioned the secretariat of the Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council in Benin City.
He affirmed his aspiration to contest the 2024 Edo State governorship election, while pledging his commitment to continue to identify with journalists in the country, for the role played by a reporter whose publication saved his life during the era of military dictatorship in Nigeria, shortly before the return of democracy in 1999.
According to him: “I am your ambassador anywhere I am. This is not because of politics, but because of what one of you did to save my life in the course of doing his work”.
“I would not have been Deputy Governor today, if I were not alive. There was a journalist that investigated and wrote a report. He saved my life from the hands of the military junta.
“So, you can see why anytime you invite me, even if it is difficult for me, I manage to show up. That is the only way I can appreciate you and encourage you in what you are doing.
“I would have done more, but you know there is tension between the governor and I. For six months, no allocation to my office, so, whatever I am doing today is from contributions by friends and the goodwill I earned over the years. However, I am still standing very strong despite the distractions, I will continue to be strong because, for me, Edo should be one. Edo at all time should be paramount on our minds.
“I am determined to make Edo what it ought to be and I am determined to make sure that good governance is seen, felt and touched if given the full opportunity.
“I am also determined to make sure that in all things, it should be Edo first and I am determined to strengthen the institutions, rather than individuals. I came into politics because I feel that we should have an egalitarian society. I came into politics to make institutions strong because that is the only way you can have that society of our dream. When institutions are strong, you deal with those guys that think they are powerful, moderate their excesses, promote and help the weak in the society.
“Institutions do not know the rich, strong, and the poor. It takes care of all strata of life. That is what I stand for, that is one of the reasons I joined politics.
“That is why I have sacrificed a lot of things to make sure the Institution call Edo works. I even sacrificed my personal entitlements to make sure this institution works and in the coming weeks, I will give the stewardship of what I have done as Deputy Governor from 2016 to date.
“I will catalogue things that I am entitled to, but had to let go for peace and tranquility to reign. I will also catalogue some of the things that I have been asked to do as Deputy Governor which I executed creditably well.
“I will assure you that my loyalty is not purchased but genuine and real to Edo people” Shaibu said.
