By Nudoiba Ojen
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, said on Tuesday, that he was duped while supporting the second term bid of the governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu, a PDP governorship hopeful in the 2024 election in the state, said that despite staking his long term relationship with Obaseki’s predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, to fight apparent godfatherism and back Obaseki’s ambition, he later found out that he was duped.
The deputy governor, who spoke on a television programme in Lagos, said that despite standing with Obaseki against someone (Oshiomhole) who he considered as a father, it was surprising that the governor was pitching tent with another governorship aspirant to become the next governor.
He said, “Because I hate oppression, I staked my relationship. That relationship, I lost about 20 per cent of my political capital in Edo North to support Godwin Obaseki.
“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.”
Speaking in Obaseki’s preference for the governorship, Shaibu said that Edo State had experimented enough with Obaseki and the people needed someone who knows the job.
He said, “Edo State doesn’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,” Shaibu said.
