Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki of and his deputy Philip Shaibu
Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has warned that he would turn against his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, if attempted to assume the role of a godfather on who will succeed on whoever as governor of the state in 2024.
He stated this at the maiden meeting of the Edo State House of Assembly Former Members Forum, held last weekend in Benin, the State capital.
He disclosed that he was actively involved when the immediate past Governor of the State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole fought against godfatherism, and he also moved against him [Oshiomhole], when he started playing the godfather himself.
According to him, “I was with Oshiomhole when he said no to godfathers, I was actively involved and when he turned around to play the role of a godfather what he preached against, I am also actively involved.
“Oshiomhole said he was the Governor and nobody can instruct his father outside. This time now, he wants to instruct and wants me to join him so that I will be the sole beneficiary and I said no. If tomorrow, Governor Obaseki turns around to instruct a sitting Governor from the outside, I will also go against him,” he added.
Shaibu while blaming Oshiomhole for the anomaly of 10-member 7th Assembly in the State, also accused him of setting the precedent of relocating the Assembly from its complex to the State Government House for the conduct of legislative business.
Recall that of the 24 law makers elected on the platform of the APC during the last General election two years ago, 14 loyalists of Adams Oshiomhole, boycotted the Assembly, alleging improper proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly.
The 10 members continued to exercise their legislative duties in the Assembly complex, but were relocated to the Government House over rumors of planned invasion of the Assembly by the 14 lawmaker-elects.
Shaibu who was the Majority Leader of the House then, traced the trajectory of the crisis which made 14 out of the 24-member legislature to boycott inauguration, to the wrong counsel Adams Oshiomhole, until their seats were declared vacant.
He recalled his personal involvement, when he and eight other lawmakers, at Oshiomhole’s directive, moved the Assembly sitting to the Government House, to save him from being impeached as Governor of the State.
According to him, “The anomalies of 10-members operating the Assembly was not initiated by Governor Obaseki, as Oshiomhole did the same thing while he held sway as the Governor of the State.
“The major issue here is that of godfathers. We relocated the House to the Government House when Comrade Oshiomhole was to be impeached. Nine of us did that. Some people then boycotted the House for 181 days and Oshiomhole told us that he prayed for them not to come back.
“So, when this problem also started in 2019, we too prayed that they should not come back. The man who benefited during one time is now at the receiving end,” he noted.
