Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has openly criticised Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to acknowledge his efforts following his reinstatement by the court, boldly stating that he was instrumental in making Obaseki governor.
In a statement on Friday, Shaibu revealed that it took former Governor Adams Oshiomhole three months to persuade him to support Obaseki’s governorship bid, as reported by Channels Television.
“Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him, and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki,” Shaibu said.
He further claimed that he and his allies provided the resources and political backing needed to secure Obaseki’s victory.
“He did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money, and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him,” Shaibu declared.
The tension between the two leaders has been escalating, particularly concerning the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Shaibu disclosed that he was chosen as Obaseki’s deputy to strengthen the party’s ticket, as Obaseki lacked political experience.
Shaibu accused Obaseki of trying to block his ambitions for the 2024 governorship race by withholding finances from his office.
He claimed he hasn’t received any payment from the government for the past year.
Following his reinstatement by a Federal High Court, Shaibu returned to his duties and instructed his staff to do the same.
However, the Edo State government responded by accusing Shaibu of impersonating the deputy governor.
Reacting to this, Shaibu labeled Obaseki as “lawless,” citing the governor’s disregard for a valid court judgment.
“The holder of the office of the governor in Edo State today is lawless, Godwin Obaseki is lawless. If he is not lawless, he will not say Philip Shaibu is impersonating because there is a valid court judgment that he has been served,” Shaibu said.
The court ruling, delivered by Justice Omotoso on July 17, declared Shaibu’s impeachment illegal and ordered his reinstatement.
The judge ruled that the impeachment violated sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court further directed that Shaibu’s salaries and allowances be paid from April, when he was initially removed from office, and issued an injunction preventing Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from obstructing Shaibu’s duties.
In response, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgment and filed a motion for a stay of execution pending the appeal.
The court’s decision came approximately three months after Shaibu was impeached as the deputy governor.
