Shaibu Reveals How Obaseki Crossed The Line As They Fight Dirty In Edo

The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has revealed how Governor Godwin Obaseki crossed the line which led to their fight which still lingers.

Shaibu disclosed that his resolve to pursue his governorship ambition strengthened after Governor Godwin Obaseki threatened to destroy him. He mentioned that he would have reconsidered his ambition if Obaseki had approached him reasonably and communicated better.

Shaibu emphasized that he valued their relationship and would have deferred to the Governor’s wishes had he been treated with respect. He highlighted his victory in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary, asserting that he had 381 delegates ready to support him, had they not been barred from the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin during the February 22 exercise.

Having defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shaibu addressed the APC National Working Committee in Abuja on Wednesday. He remarked, “The issues were political. I declared my intention to contest for governor of Edo State, which triggered the conflict. Obaseki said, ‘You cannot contest because I have my plans’. He then threatened to destroy me if I continued. But I believe no man can thwart God’s plans. As an activist, I decided to contest. During our discussions, I was still consulting. I entered the race and won because I engaged in high-level politics. They are not politicians; they benefited from our efforts. I secured 400 out of 572 delegates initially, but lost some, retaining 381. On primary day, those 381 were denied accreditation. The accreditation tags were given to their appointees, turning the primary into a social gathering.”

Shaibu further explained that the court had validated his delegates as authentic, while those presented by Obaseki’s camp were deemed fake. He noted, “The court has vindicated me with two judgments. What’s crucial is to uphold internal democracy. You can lobby and communicate with people. If the governor had shown leadership, I might not have contested because I am not desperate. My ambition is to improve the state. If someone agrees to a collective effort, I would support it. But the governor acted like a dictator, and I fought back.”