The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, has given a pat on the back to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu for working like true brothers in the state which prides itself as the Heartbeat of Nigeria.
Ngige who presented Shaibu with his plaque as the SunNewspaper Sportsman of Year award winner noted that Obaseki and Shaibu are doing things differently.
Ngige expressed delight over Obaseki’s presence with his wife Betsy to support Shaibu during the SunAwards ceremony.
“This is a case of a governor being 100 percent “loyal” to his deputy in a country where only the deputy is expected to show loyalty to his boss,” Ngige stated, even as he commended Shaibu for what he is doing to develop sports not only in Edo but the country at large.
The Labour minister was quick to add that Shaibu’s award was one which he can beat his chest to say that it was not rigged, given the deputy governor’s pedigree in sports.
Shaibu while receiving the award dedicated it to God and his boss, Obaseki who he noted has allowed him to oversee Sports in the state.
“I dedicate this award to God who made it possible. In any case, God uses man to perform his miracles and the man he is using in this instance is my boss, Godwin Obaseki who has given me a free hand to oversee sports in Edo State,” Shaibu noted.
Shaibu was selected as the Sun Sports Man of Year courtesy of the role he played in ensuring that the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival took place after many postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shaibu remains the only football-playing deputy governor in the country as he laces boots for Bendel Insurance.
He also captained Edo soccer team to win gold at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival.
