Before now, the relationship between the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, seemed as solid as the rock. But it has turned sour ahead of the 2024 governorship election. Daily Trust on Sunday examines the intrigues and powerplay.
The political honeymoon is over and there is no more love lost between the two political godsons of former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who are now fighting over succession.
Political observers have linked the frosty relationship to their political ambitions ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.
While Obaseki, like other governors, wants to install a successor to protect his interest, his deputy, Shaibu, wants to replace the governor who seems not to be favourably disposed to such.
Obaseki is said to be disposed to having a successor from Edo Central, a district that has only had a shot at Osadebe House for 18 months since the current dispensation in 1999.
He is said to have surreptitiously anointed one Asuen Ighodalo, a Lagos-based businessman, who always spearheaded his yearly Alaghodalo summit to chart an economic road map for the state.
Despite the body language of his principal, Shuaibu is said to have embarked on moves to actualize his governorship ambition.
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that in June, when Edo Central district solicited support in producing a governor in 2024, traditional rulers in Edo North declared that Philip Shaibu was their preferred candidate for the election.
Speaking at the palace of the Ogieneni of Uzairue, Alhaji Kadiri Imhonikhe, Omogbai IV, the Olokpe of Okpe, HRH Oba Idogu III, said they would throw their weight behind their son (Shaibu) who had informed them that he was also in the race to succeed Obaseki.
Following his endorsement by the traditional rulers, it was gathered that Governor Obaseki who had not given his deputy the nod felt slighted and began t make moves to crumble his political ambition.
The frosty relationship was said to have reached a crescendo when Shuaibu visited his erstwhile godfather and kinsman, Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja, during his inauguration as a senator representing Edo North Senatorial District.
With Shaibu’s visit to Oshiomhole in Abuja without his knowledge, Obaseki was said to have felt slighted that his deputy was hobnobbing with his political adversaries, hence his wings should be clipped.
Daily Trust on Sunday also gathered that the governor’s first move was to have withdrawn the supervision of the revenue generation agencies, and local governments among others that were domiciled in the deputy governor’s office.
Soon after that, sources told Daily Trust on Sunday that the governor allegedly summoned PDP members of the State House of Assembly to his house, adding that when Shaibu, who heard of the development, visited the place, he was denied access by the governor’s security team.
A source who only gave his name as Jack said prominent members of the PDP had waded into the matter but without success, as the governor claimed that Shaibu was “dining and whining with his foes.”
Determined to save his political career, Shaibu recently approached an Abuja High to forestall the alleged impeachment by his principal.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police; State Security Service; the Governor of Edo State; the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of the State are the first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants respectively. Shaibu is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants/respondents or their agents from commencing an impeachment process against him.
He also prayed the court to restrain the governor or other persons acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the deputy governor of the state.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed while ruling in the motion on notice directed the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending when the defendants show cause as directed in another ruling of the Court made on July 27th, 2023.
Obaseki’s special adviser on media and strategy, Crusoe Osagie, described Shaibu as a spoilt child who is stirring crisis, adding that the governor is opting for governance instead of politics.
“Shaibu has now taken his indiscipline to the zenith by trying to create a crisis for his boss because of his inordinate and self-serving ambition to succeed the governor by all means.
“Shaibu has run to the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking for a restraining order to stop Governor Obaseki from impeaching him which is a false allegation.”
He, however, said Obaseki had been under intense pressure from the legacy PDP group to sacrifice Philip Shaibu’s position as the deputy governor to the old PDP as part of their reward for offering a platform for the Governor to seek re-election after he left the APC.
“It was Obaseki’s insistence on retaining Shaibu’s position as Deputy Governor that caused the crisis between the governor, his followers, and the old PDP,” he said.
On his part, a source close to Shaibu, said his traducers are out to halt his ambition in the belief that he is going to contest the 2024 governorship election.
The source, who craved anonymity, described Shaibu as a loyal deputy who stood with his principal in the hour of need and fought his own kinsman.
“Everything is in the hands of God, if He said Shaibu would be governor, nobody can stop and if God said he wouldn’t be governor, no one can make him governor.
“Obaseki should be a good student of history because Oshiomhole brought him as governor instead of his deputy, Pius Odubu, but he betrayed Oshiomhole in the end. So, the same thing would also befall him no matter who he brings in 2024.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, John Mayaki, described Shaibu’s predicament as karma, saying Shaibu stood at the centre of the political storm against Oshiomhole who provided him and Obaseki the opportunity to serve.
He said the duo’s feud with Oshiomhole escalated to the point where Oshiomhole found himself banned from Edo by the people he supported against all odds.
“Today, a new chapter unfolds as reports suggest that Governor Obaseki contemplates impeaching deputy governor Philip Shaibu. The reason cited is Shaibu’s audacious aspiration to contest in 2024. Yet, in this high-stakes gamble, Shaibu appears to stand alone, as alliances shift and loyalties waver.”
“The looming question is whether Shaibu will return to the embrace of Oshiomhole and the APC, or if he will chart a new course by aligning himself with the PDP or perhaps even the Labour Party.”
Mayaki said the predicament Shaibu faces raises doubts about his future in the realm of politics, leaving many wondering if his credibility can be restored after the tumultuous episode.
“As the saga unfolds, the intricate web of allegiances, ambitions, and shifting loyalties will inevitably shape the course of Edo State’s political landscape,” Mayaki said.
Also speaking, PDP Secretary, Hilary Otsu, said it is sad that Edo State PDP is hosting a dogfight between a governor and his deputy, for the first time with the ignominy of impeachment staring the deputy in the face.
“Whatever the grouse, my take is that we don’t deserve this in Edo State PDP. Edo PDP already bears a heavy burden of division between the government and the party/leadership which has cost us so much. Governor Obaseki needs to arrest the situation before it’s too late.”
Meanwhile, Shaibu’s allies, his ex-chief of staff, Jimoh Ijegba, and former speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Kabir Adjoto, have abandoned him and joined Obaseki in the successor battle.
Adjoto who is said to have been picked as Shaibu’s possible successor after impeachment led PDP leaders from Edo North senatorial to dissociate the district from Shaibu’s action.
He said: “We are out to let Governor Obaseki know that Edo North people are solidly behind him and would support whoever he picked as his successor.
“We dissociate the Afemai people from this ill-conceived action of Shaibu and also apologize to Governor Obaseki for the unfortunate incident (court action).”
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