Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, has revealed the depths of his fallout with Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing him of betrayal and threats.
Shaibu claimed he would have abandoned his gubernatorial ambitions if Obaseki had shown more reason and engaged in meaningful dialogue with him.
Speaking candidly, Shaibu painted a picture of a hostile and dictatorial Obaseki, whose threats to “destroy” him solidified his resolve to pursue the governorship.
Shaibu described how he won the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary despite significant hurdles. He alleged that on the day of the primary, he brought 381 delegates to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, only to have them shut out by Obaseki’s allies. The court later ruled in Shaibu’s favor, validating his delegates and exposing the governor’s appointees as fraudulent.
Reflecting on his political journey, Shaibu lamented the betrayal he felt after years of loyalty and sacrifice. He emphasized that his contest for governor was not out of desperation but a genuine desire to improve the state.
Shaibu also addressed allegations that he absconded with 22 official vehicles after his impeachment, calling the claims false. He clarified that in their seven and a half years in office, only one official car was bought for his convoy.
Shaibu said, “The easiest way to have a disagreement is money. Even my official entitlements, most of them I didn’t even apply for them. That is, anything that has to do with going to meet the governor to apply for anything, including my personal or official entitlement. I confined myself within the official salary that came to me.
“Recently, I saw an advert that I should return 22 vehicles. Only one vehicle in the seven and a half years that the governor bought for my convoy. Only one. Every vehicle you see in my convoy, some of them, especially the Landcruiser I used for three years with a coat of arm and flag as staff car, the Prado I used as back-up for three years, was the same that I used as the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.
“It was the third year of his first term that the governor eventually bought a Landcruiser jeep. Even when they were bringing the jeep, it had an accident on the way. We had to change the wheels and it took two weeks for us to fix it. I never made it an issue, because for me, anything that will bring trouble I was able to manage it. I am happy that I gave everything and I was never found wanting. I was not impeached because I stole money, I was not corrupt, or because of incompetence.
“Today, the court has also told us that what they said was gross misconduct was never a misconduct. They said I gave out government secrets. I have worked diligently with this man. I was asked to perform his duty as acting governor and I was able to organise the security system. I have not done anything wrong to warrant impeachment.”
When asked if he could ever forgive Obaseki for treating him as an outcast, Shaibu hesitated before nodding.
He 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. But I have just discovered that there is no perfect relationship with what has happened between the governor and me.
“From my own end, I gave everything. I gave all to have him succeed. Because, for me, it is about the state and the state in everything. So, I gave everything even my official earnings. I forfeited lots of my official entitlement. Why? It is because I didn’t want any trouble or disagreement.”
