Oshiomhole speaks on Shaibu’s defection to APC

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has reacted to the return of Philip Shaibu to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying time will tell if the former Deputy Governor of Edo State would be loyal.

Shaibu is a political prodigy of Oshiomhole, a former governor of the South-South state.

However, the duo fell out in the wake of Governor Godwin Obaseki and Shaibu’s second term win which led them to quit the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Having returned to the APC after falling out with Obaseki, Oshiomhole who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics said Shaibu’s action was common in politics.

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According to him, only time will tell on worries about Shaibu’s loyalty to him having left the APC before returning.

“Well, that’s a theoretical question. Time will tell,” he said when asked about the reinstated deputy governor’s loyalty.

He said Shaibu made mistakes in the past but said being a member of any political party was a choice.

“Well, that is the nature of politics. Whatever you have done wrong, the day you realise that you have done wrong, and you have the courage to own up to your poor judgement or actions that were undemocratic, like they said, it is still better,” Oshiomhole who represents Edo North in the upper chamber said.

“A political party is a voluntary association and we are regulated by both the APC constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Nigerian Constitution. For me, it is not a big deal to worry about,” the former APC national chairman said.

‘Police, do your job’

Shaibu’s return to Benin City after his reinstatement as the deputy governor by a federal high court in Abuja was marred by chaos as a police officer attached to the APC governorship candidate for the Edo election Monday Okpebholo was killed.

Since the incident, Shaibu’s camp and the Edo State government have continued to trade blame. The police have launched an investigation over the incident but Oshiomhole wants them to do more.

“Like I said yesterday, I think the commissioner has a duty to redeem the image of the police and live up to the bidding of a police commissioner under the Police Act,” he said.

Oshiomhole called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to compel the Edo Police Commissioner, Funsho Adegboye to fish out the culprits.

“He [police commissioner] has a duty to arrest and prosecute those who are responsible,” the APC chieftain insisted.