Obaseki-Shaibu Clash: A case of bullying and ingratitude, says group

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has been accused of being behind the smear campaign against his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu and was berated for the clandestine impeachment moves that recently filtered into public knowledge.

A group under the aegis of Concerned Youths For Edo Development (CYED) in a statement in Abuja described governor Obaseki as being ungrateful and using state power to bully Shaibu, a loyal associate on whose political weight he got into office.

The Coordinator of the group wondered if Loyalty is a crime and queried what Obaseki is afraid of. He further stated that it is no hidden secret that Philip Shaibu was the force behind Obaseki fortunes for both first and second tenure, else, Obaseki would have been floored at both attempts.

According to him, Shaibu was so loyal to Obaseki that, in protest against party victimization, he broke rank with Adams Oshiomole, a political ally and family.

When asked if He’s aware of the reason behind the purported impeachment moves by the governor, The Coordinator said that Obaseki Knows He’s no match for Shaibu as far as political goodwill and community acceptance is concerned, hence, he wants to terminate Shaibu’s life-long opportunity for leadership because of a temporary variance.

Recall that the Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philip Shaibu Thursday approached a Federal High Court to seek protection from his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, whom he often refer to as high elder, in order to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.

In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and made available to the media, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State including attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Sources reveal that In the past two months, all have not been well in the state house, Benin City between Governor Obaseki and his Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

In addition, the governor is said to be at variance with his Deputy because of his closeness to and cordial relationship with His Royal Majesty, The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. It was also said that the governor was determined to punish his deputy for building bridges across political, social and Community divides.

While reacting to this, the CYED spokesman said, “It is political immaturity for a governor to believe that His deputy must inherit his enemies and hate those he hates.”

According to him, majority of the successes recorded by Obaseki-Shaibu government were from programs and projects directly supervised by Philip Shaibu, else the government under Obaseki would have been a wanton failure.