The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, stated on Tuesday that he has been operating the office on charitable donations and personal sacrifices for the past six months without receiving the funding allotted to him.

At the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council’s Correspondents Chapel secretariat’s commissioning ceremony in Benin City, he made this statement.

Celebrities that attend the event include Matthew Urhoghide, Oserhiemen Osunbor, and Anslem Ojezua, all of whom are running for governor of Edo in 2024.

Shaibu said that he was running for governor of Edo State in 2024 and that he would never stop identifying with the media for saving his life during the military dictatorship that ended in 1999 with the return to democracy.

“Wherever I am, I am your ambassador,” he declared. This isn’t due to politics; rather, it’s because of what you did to save my life while carrying out your duties.

“I would have done more, but as you are aware, there is a rift between the governor, Godwin Obaseki, and myself, and for the past six months, I have not received any funding for my office. As a result, whatever I am doing is supported by friends and my goodwill, and I will not waver because, in my opinion, Edo should always come first in our thoughts.

“If I weren’t still alive, I wouldn’t be serving as deputy governor today, but a journalist looked into the matter and produced a report that prevented the military from taking my life.”

He reaffirmed his dedication to prioritising the state and promised to fortify the organisation that installed him.