The former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, has said that only a governorship candidate fluent in the Edo dialect could effectively govern the state.
Shaibu made this declaration during the Edo Central PDP leaders and stakeholders meeting held in Irrua, the administrative headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area.
Expressing his stance, Shaibu said candidates who relied on interpreters to communicate with Edo people did not qualify as ‘homeboys’ and were not suitable to govern.
He said that it is necessary to elect a candidate deeply rooted in Edo culture and traditions.
While Shaibu did not explicitly name any candidate, his remarks might be connected to the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
Ighodalo had come under scrutiny for using an interpreter to address his kinsmen during a campaign event in Esan South East Local Government Area.
The video of Ighodalo addressing the crowd in English while an interpreter translated his words into the Esan language sparked debate and criticism within the party.
Meanwhile, News About Nigeria reported that Asue Ighodalo denied claims that he had a hand in Shaibu’s impeachment from office.
Shaibu had accused Ighodalo of having a hand in his impeachment following the move by the Edo State House of Assembly to impeach him after the report of the seven-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge to investigate allegations of misconduct levelled against him.
In response to Shaibu’s accusation in a statement, the media team of Ighodalo described the allegation as fake, noting that it was a plot to destroy Ighodalo’s reputation.
