The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has expressed his sense of betrayal by his principal, Godwin Obaseki, for not backing his candidature in the upcoming 2024 governorship election.
Shaibu, who claimed that he was persuaded to be the deputy governor of Obaseki, said he added value to his principal’s government in terms of political structure and his finances.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant said he was hurt that Obaseki was supporting an outsider instead of him.
“Actually, I was persuaded, and there was no protest. I actually didn’t want to be a deputy governor. I was very comfortable in the House of Representatives. It took almost one month to get me to accept being the deputy governor of Edo State.
“I accepted to add value to the ticket of Obaseki because Obaseki was not known and he was not one of the politicians. They needed a young, vibrant politician that has won elections before and that can add political value to the ticket,” he said.
Speaking on his perceived betrayal, he said, “I feel betrayed by the governor. I feel very betrayed. When we go to church, there are certain biblical verses that are becoming meaningful to me. There is this particular verse that has been going through my mind: ‘The heart of man is desperately wicked.’ When I see what the governor is doing, the verse now makes sense to me.
“I added value in terms of my political structure and my finances. All the vehicles that were used to campaign in 2016 are mine.
“I lost about 20% of my political capital in Edo North to support Godwin Obaseki and to support him even as deputy governor.
“I supported the second-term bid of the governor with my finances. Including how we got the ticket of the PDP, I contributed financially, both in naira and in dollars. If I say betrayal, it’s an understatement. I feel very hurt and betrayed.”
Shaibu is from Edo North Senatorial District, the same district as the ex-governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
The deputy governor has been having a running battle with his principal over his political ambitions.
Shaibu had earlier asked an Abuja High Court to stop Obaseki and members of the state House of Assembly from impeaching him at the peak of the dispute.
He later withdrew the case.
Tension heightened between the two when Shaibu was relocated to another office situated outside the Government House.
Shaibu was the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students between 2000 and 2001.
In 2015, he was declared the winner of the House of Representatives election held in the Etsako Federal Constituency.
Shaibu made a formal announcement expressing his desire to compete for the Peoples Democratic Party ticket in the party primaries in November 2023.
“As your deputy governor in the last seven years, I have had the privilege of working closely with our amiable governor, Godwin Obaseki, to lay a solid foundation for the progress in Edo State,” he stated during his announcement.
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced that the Edo governorship election will be held on September 21, 2024.