The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday,
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’s Morning Show, 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.”
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