The new deputy governor of Edo State, Omobayo Godwin, has promised to remain loyal to the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Omobayo said he would only do whatever the governor asked him to do.
The 38-year-old former Labour Party House of Representatives candidate remarked in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today Programme on Monday.
Omobayo was sworn in after the state assembly impeached Philip Shaibu for allegedly leaking the state government’s secrets.
Commenting on being satisfied with the role of a deputy governor being relegated to a “spare tire,” the new deputy governor said, “It’s okay with me. Life is a process. At 37 or older, I am already a deputy governor. It has improved my political outlook, and I am not in a rush to deal with my governor.
“Whatever he says I should do is what I will do. He knows my strength. So, I will dwell on my strengths when it comes to adding value. Politically, I am learning on the job.”
Omotayo mentioned that the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party contacted him to be the new deputy governor.
He said, “Becoming a deputy governor wasn’t expected. I was expecting to run for the House of Representatives 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 of 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.”
He boasted that he has robust grassroots support from his base in Akoko Edo, one of the local governments in the Edo North Senatorial District, to boost the chances of Ighodalo, who hails from Ewohimi in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District.
According to Omotayo, his becoming deputy governor, months before the expiration of the eight-year tenure of Obaseki, was part of the political permutations for Ighodalo to defeat his closest contenders, like LP’s Olumide Akpata and Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Commenting on Shaibu’s impeachment, he said, “That is politics for you. Your job, first of all, is to be loyal.
“My appointment has increased the confidence of the youth. Youths are very happy that it is big news for them.”
