The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has criticized Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to acknowledge his reinstatement by the court, claiming that he was instrumental in making Obaseki governor. Shaibu made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s political program, Politics Today, on Friday, August 16.
Shaibu revealed that it took former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole three months to convince him and his supporters to back Obaseki for the governorship position. He also claimed that Obaseki, who was not a politician and lacked financial strength at the time, was only able to ascend to power due to the resources and political capital provided by Shaibu and his allies.
He said;
“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.
“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, 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.”
The relationship between Shaibu and Obaseki has been strained over issues related to the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. Shaibu has accused the governor of attempting to hinder his political ambitions by cutting off finances due to him as deputy governor. He also claimed that he has not received any payments from the government for the past year.
