Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, stated that he would have abandoned his governorship ambition if Governor Godwin Obaseki had approached him reasonably.
Shaibu accused Obaseki of being a dictator and revealed that his resolve to pursue the governorship intensified after Obaseki threatened to destroy him if he did not step down.
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Shaibu claimed he had secured 381 delegates who would have voted for him in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary, but he was prevented from entering the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin where the primary took place on February 22.
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Having now defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, Shaibu spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the APC National Working Committee in Abuja, expressing feelings of betrayal despite his sacrifices and loyalty to Obaseki.
“The truth is that the issues were all political. I declared to contest for the governor of Edo State. That is where the fight started,” Shaibu said.
He added that he tried to pacify Obaseki, but to no avail, leading him to decide to contest for the governorship.
Shaibu also refuted claims that he took 22 official vehicles after his impeachment, stating that the governor only bought one vehicle for his convoy in their seven and a half years in office.
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Reflecting on their relationship, Shaibu said, “If the governor had shown leadership, maybe I wouldn’t have contested because I am not a desperate person. My ambition is not inordinate. I have an ambition to fix the state. If somebody else can agree that we collectively fix it, I will follow. But the governor wanted to behave like a military dictator.”
Regarding accusations of corruption and misconduct, Shaibu maintained his innocence, explaining that he was not impeached for any wrongdoing.
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He emphasized his dedication to the state’s development and his commitment to democracy.
When asked about forgiving Obaseki, Shaibu hesitated but eventually said, “The only person that is perfect is the Almighty God. None of us created by God is perfect. One of the greatest commandments in the world is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ If all of us can actually take to that commandment, there will be peace in the world.”
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Shaibu concluded by affirming his loyalty to Edo State and his efforts to support Obaseki’s success despite the challenges in their relationship.
