The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu has said that his principal, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, betrayed him by not backing his candidature in the upcoming governorship election.
Shaibu, who said that he was persuaded to be Obaseki’s deputy, said that he added value to his principal’s government in terms of political structure and finances.
During an interview with Arise TV on Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant said he was hurt that Obaseki was supporting an “outsider” instead of him.
Shaibu is believed to be referring to corporate lawyer and boardroom expert, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who recently resigned as Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Sterling Bank Limited and declared his interest in the governorship race under the PDP banner.
“Actually, I was persuaded and there was no protest. I actually didn’t want to be a deputy governor. I was very comfortable in the House of Representatives. It took almost one month to get me to 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”, he said.
On his perceived betrayal, he said: “I feel betrayed by the governor. I feel very betrayed. When we go to church, there are certain biblical verses that are becoming to make meaning to me. There is this particular verse that has been going through my mind: ‘The heart of man is desperately wicked’. When I see what the governor is doing, the verse now makes meaning to me.
“I lost about 20 per cent of my political capital in Edo North to support 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 same district as Obaseki’s predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The deputy governor has been having a running battle with his principal over his political ambitions.
Shaibu had earlier asked an Abuja High Court to stop Obaseki and members of the state House of Assembly from impeaching him at the peak of the dispute.
He later withdrew the case.
Tension heightened between the two when Shaibu was relocated to another office situated outside the Government House.
Shaibu was the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students between 2000 and 2001. In 2015, he was declared the winner of the House of Representatives election for Etsako federal constituency. He was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has the backing of Oshiomhole, who was then about to conduct his second tenure as governor of the state.
Shortly after, he became the running mate of APC governorship candidate, Obaseki for the 2016 election. Both Obaseki and Shaibu however defected to the PDP to contest for a second term in 2020.
Last November, Shaibu made a formal announcement expressing his desire to compete for the PDP ticket in the party primary for this year’s election, slated for 21st September.
“As your deputy governor in the last seven years, I have had the privilege of working closely with our amiable governor, Godwin Obaseki, to lay a solid foundation for the progress in Edo State”, he said during his announcement.
