Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu has said he is deeply hurt that Governor Godwin Obaseki is supporting a Lagos-based lawyer, Asue Ighodalo, an indigene of Edo Central Senatorial District, whom he described as an outsider, instead of him.
Shaibu, a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 election, accused Obaseki, who hails from Benin Kingdom in Edo South Senatorial District, and withheld the allocations to his office for over six months, of betrayal.
Edo deputy governor, an indigene of Edo North Senatorial District, insisted that he was not fighting Obaseki over his decision to support Ighodalo, but Edo governor was the one fighting him.
He stressed that Obaseki declared a full-scale war against him, for daring to exercise his democratic right in seeking the ticket of PDP, with the intention to succeed him on November 12, 2024.
Shaibu spoke yesterday as a guest on a national television’s live programme monitored in Benin.
He accused Obaseki of playing the role of a political godfather in the state, nothing that Edo governor and him fought against godfatherism, after agreeing that such a situation should never again be experienced in Edo State.
He said: “The shared focus of Governor Obaseki and I remain serving the people of Edo State, and dismantling the influence of godfathers in Edo politics.
“I staked my long-term relationship with Senator Adams Oshiomhole to fight oppression and back Governor Obaseki’s aspiration.”
Shaibu also expressed displeasure that in spite of his 100 per cent loyalty to Obaseki, his dedication to duties and hard work, while standing through thick and thin with Edo governor, he decided to work against his governorship aspiration.
He said: “This is the same governor (Obaseki) that issued me many commendation letters, writing that I am the best deputy governor any governor will wish to have, because of my efficiency, transparency and accountability.
“Anyone who says I betrayed Edo governor is not correct. We all agreed as a group to fight godfathers. Even Governor Obaseki pledged to fight godfatherism in Edo State, and said he should be dealt with, if he turns around and attempts to play the role of a godfather.
“Since I hate oppression, I staked my relationship with Oshiomhole. I lost about 20 per cent of my political capital in Edo North Senatorial District to support Obaseki as the deputy governor. Through my friends and others, I supported the second term bid of Edo governor in 2020, with my structure, all my vehicles, and finances. For us to get the ticket of PDP, I contributed financially.”
Shaibu expressed optimism of emerging the standard-bearer of PDP this year, in spite of the war declared against him by Obaseki.
