•Philip Shaibu
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, yesterday claimed he was duped while supporting his principal, Godwin Obasek’s second term bid.
He said while he staked his long term relationship with Obaseki’s predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, to fight apparent godfatherism and back his principal’s ambition, he later found out that he was duped.
Shaibu, who is a former student union leader, lamented that despite standing with Obaseki against someone (Oshiomhole) whom he considered as a father, it was surprising that the governor is pitching tent with another governorship aspirant to become the next governor.
Some Peoples Democratic Party leaders in Edo North, the senatorial district of Shuaibu, endorsed a former Sterling Bank chairman, Asue Ighodalo, as their preferred PDP governorship candidate on Sunday.
The meeting was at the instance of a former deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, and had in attendance many party heavyweights.
Also, Ighodalo is rumoured to have Obaseki’s backing, who is opposed to Shaibu’s governorship ambition to succeed him.
But speaking on Arise TV, the deputy governor claimed that despite supporting the governor with all his resources to fight oppression, he later realised he was duped.
He said, “Because I hate oppression, I staked my relationship. That relationship, I lost about 20% of my political capital in Edo North to support Godwin Obaseki and in supporting him, even as deputy governor that does not have any line financially, through my friends and others, I supported the second term bid of the governor with my structures, all my vehicles and finances including how we got the ticket of PDP, I contributed financially both in naira and dollars and I discovered I was even duped.
“So, If I say betrayal, it is an understatement. I feel very hurt and betrayed because I sacrificed my personal earnings and entitlement just to have the system working.”
Downplaying Obaseki’s preferred candidate, he explained that the state has experiment enough with Obaseki and the people needed someone who knows the job.
Shaibu said, “Edo State don’t have time to experiment because we have experimented with Governor Godwin Obaseki and some of us have to go extra mile to cover the gaps. People are saying Shaibu is one popular deputy governor but I only have two portfolios and so I have to be filling the gaps.”
He also faulted claims that being from Edo North will naturally play him out of equation to get the PDP’s ticket, adding that if equity and justice is followed, the ruling party will zone the ticket to his senatorial district.
“So, coming from the same area as Oshiomhole is not the real issue. The real issue is what I am bringing to the table. And if we want to talk about zoning and agenda, the real agenda is that Edo North has never been given ticket to contest for governorship election by the PDP.
“So, when we go into the equity and fairness that the governor is championing, that equity and fairness seems to favour PDP giving the ticket to Philip Shaibu. I can tell you the people of Edo State do not want an outsider and the governor is bringing an outsider and we will resist it.”
