The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Wednesday, accused his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, of betrayal.
Shaibu, who’s looking for to develop into the subsequent governor of Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, stated Obaseki betrayed him by backing another aspirant within the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
Meanwhile, another PDP governorship aspirant, John Yakubu, a two-time chairman of the Esan North-East Local Government Area, stepped down on Wednesday for a former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo, who’s believed to be Obaseki’s candidate for the governorship ballot.
Speaking throughout an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, Shaibu stated he regretted supporting Obaseki’s second-term bid in 2020 when Obaseki had a battle together with his predecessor after which political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, who vowed he wouldn’t be reelected for a second time period.
Shaibu stated, “Actually, I used to be persuaded and there was no protest. I really didn’t wish to be a deputy governor. I used to be very comfy within the House of Representatives. It took virtually one month to get me to just accept to be the deputy governor of Edo State.
“I accepted to add value to the ticket of Obaseki because Obaseki was not known and he was not one of the politicians. They needed a young, vibrant politician that has won election before and that can add political value to the ticket.”
Speaking on his perceived betrayal, he stated, “I really feel betrayed by the governor. I really feel very betrayed. When we go to church, there are specific biblical verses which are starting to make which means to me. There is that this specific verse that has been going by means of my thoughts: ‘The heart of man is desperately wicked.’ When I see what the governor is doing, the verse now makes which means to me.
“I added worth by way of my political construction, my funds. All the autos that had been used to marketing campaign in 2016 are mine.
“I misplaced about 20 per cent of my political capital in Edo North to assist Godwin Obaseki, and in supporting him even as deputy governor.
“I supported the second term bid of the governor with my finances. Including how we got the ticket of the PDP, I contributed financially, both in naira and in dollars. If I say betrayal, it’s an understatement. I feel very hurt and betrayed.”
Shaibu is from Edo North Senatorial District, the identical district as Oshiomhole.
The deputy governor has been having a operating battle together with his principal over his political ambitions.
Also, a former Minister of Works, Mike Onolomemen, on Wednesday, alleged that Obaseki pushed him out of the PDP.
Onolomemen stated the alleged manipulation of final 12 months’s senatorial primaries of the PDP by Obaseki compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
Onolomemen, who can also be a governorship aspirant on the APC platform, spoke to journalists in Abuja.
He stated, “It is true that I’ve been a member of the PDP. Up until 2023, I used to be a member of the get together, however one thing occurred that I simply couldn’t relate with.
Right from the start of 2023, I got down to run for a senatorial seat, that’s the Edo Central Senatorial District. In that main election, I gained in a really trendy approach. I bought 90 per cent of the votes and the remaining 10 per cent was shared by the remaining 5 aspirants.
“But at a time, I thought it was over, the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki had come in and was supporting somebody who did not even partake in the primaries to take over the seat. Initially, we thought it was a joke. We went to the high court and from there to the Court of Appeal and from there to the Supreme Court. Funny enough, the Supreme Court gave them judgment. For me, that was the breaking point. From that point, I did not accept to go further because it was one too many. That was what happened.”
He stated he was assured of successful the APC governorship main, saying his newness within the get together wouldn’t be a drawback.
“Those in APC today were once in the PDP with us in Edo State. Many of them are people we have done things together politically. When we are together, we don’t discriminate against one another. Because of that, it is the same characters you are dealing with. So, you don’t feel as if you are a newcomer. We are comers as it were,” he stated.
Efforts to get Obaseki’s response had been unsuccessful as his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, couldn’t be reached on his cell phone and he had but to answer to a textual content message despatched to his line as of the time of submitting this report.
On Wednesday, the aspiration of Igbodalo, who’s believed to have Obaseki’s backing, bought a lift as Yakubu, withdrew from the governorship race for him.
The PUNCH reviews that Yakubu’s withdrawal brings to 5 PDP governorship aspirants who’ve stepped down for Ighodalo.
Four aspirants had not too long ago stepped down for Ighodalo. They are a member of the House of Representatives, Friday Itula; a former senator, Clifford Odia; another House of Representatives member, Marcus Onobun, and Kenneth Awolimen.
Also on Monday, PDP leaders from Edo North on Monday held a gathering the place they endorsed Ighodalo, as their most well-liked PDP governorship candidate, a growth that angered Shaibu.
On Wednesday, Yakubu stated he stepped down for Ighodalo within the curiosity of the get together.
He spoke to journalists at Igueben, the executive headquarters of Igueben Local Government Area in Edo, shortly after a closed-door assembly with the Edo Central PDP Special Committee, headed by the previous Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi.
Yakubu stated, “After due session throughout our high get together management spectrum, members of my marketing campaign organisation and my teeming supporters, throughout the three senatorial districts and past, I’ve determined, that for the general curiosity of our get together and the craving of Edo individuals to proceed to have the PDP at Osadebe Avenue, to put down my governorship aspiration.
“Going by the smart path paved and proven by our get together senatorial management to this point, the physique language of members of our get together and the optimistic actions displayed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo himself, it has develop into very clear that Ighodalo is in a very good place to result in this much-needed growth to us as a celebration and within the state.
“On these grounds, I stand solidly behind Dr. Ighodalo, not only as our governorship candidate but in all of the activities that will ensure his victory and our victory at the polls come September 2024.”
Meanwhile, the Edo Central PDP Special Committee, headed by Ikimi, will right this moment (Thursday), announce its consensus aspirant.
