Shaibu: How I Was Pressured to Join Obaseki’s Campaign Team in 2016

•Says he spent his personal resources to get the governor elected

Emma Okonji

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, yesterday said he used his political structure and personal funds to support the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in his political campaigns after he was persuaded by party members, including the governor to help strengthen his team in 2016.

Shaibu who spoke yesterday on the Morning Show on ARISE News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, boasted that he has worked with Obaseki for seven years and has used that period to build a solid foundation for the state.

“They saw me as grassroots person in Edo politics and I was persuaded to beef up the campaign team of Obaseki, who was not popular as at 2016.

“ They needed a vibrant politician who had won election in the state before and who can add political value to the party, hence I was persuaded to run for the ticket of deputy governor, and I willingly accepted,” Shaibu said.

Reacting to the claim that some political bigwigs do not want him to run as governor in the forthcoming election in Edo State because he is from the same local government as Adams Oshiomhole, Shaibu said those making such moves were doing so for selfish reasons.

He added that he has plans to begin work from the first year if elected as the next governor of the state.

“That I am from the same local government with former Governor Oshiomhole, is not the real issue. The real issue is that the people of Edo State have experimented with Obaseki and they do not want to experiment again, hence they are rooting for me to become the next governor of the state.

“ Obaseki is trying to bring an outsider to succeed him, and the people do not want an outsider and we will resist the move of the governor to impose an outsider on the people of Edo State.

“I am running as the next governor of the state because the people of Edo State need me. I have told my supporters not to be allowed to be provoked by opposing forces, but to focus on electing me as their next governor.

“I feel betrayed by Governor Obaseki, based on his actions which tend to oppose my political ambition. I added so much value in 2016 election when Obaseki contested as governor and I was his deputy.

“ During our second term campaign I also added value and I lost 20 per cent of my political capital while supporting Obaseki’s second term bid and together we fought against the godfather syndrome in the state.

“Through my efforts, we won that battle, and now he wants to be godfather to a politician in the state, a struggle that we fought against in the past,” he added.

He reiterated that he supported the second term bid of  Obaseki his finance and political structure and contributed both in naira and in dollars.

“So, if I said he betrayed me, its an understatement and I am not happy that he betrayed me, because I sacrificed my personal earnings to ensure that we succeed together,” Shaibu said.

He however denied ever betraying Obaseki in their political struggles. He said Obaseki did not promise him the governor’s ticket in the upcoming election.

According to him, there was no discussion in the past as to who will succeed him in 2024. He also accused those who felt that he betrayed Obaseki as being economical with the truth.

“We all agreed to fight together but he is the one betraying me. Obaseki was among those that persuaded me to become his deputy governor, but he did not contribute to my political structure and he did not raise me politically, because I grew through the ranks,” Shaibu said.

He promised to fix federal roads and build infrastructure in the state when voted as the nest governor of Edo state.