In the aftermath of his reinstatement as Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu has leveled serious allegations against Governor Godwin Obaseki, claiming that he was denied entry into the state.
These accusations have exacerbated tensions between the two leaders, particularly in light of the forthcoming governorship election.
Shaibu made these claims during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in his favor for reinstatement. Expressing his strong faith as a devout Catholic, Shaibu asserted his determination to continue his political struggle leading up to the September 21 election, emphasizing his belief that only God has the authority to bring about a person’s downfall.
Furthermore, Shaibu accused Governor Obaseki of orchestrating a recent attack in Benin City, alleging that it was a fulfillment of a previous threat to undermine him.
He also lamented the tragic death of a police inspector during an assault on his and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo’s convoys by suspected gunmen in Benin City.
The Deputy Governor of Edo State said: “Yesterday, I got intel that the governor has told his men that they must not allow me into town. I am a free-born of Edo State, nobody can stop me from entering Edo State.
“The constitution does not allow anybody to bar me from entering Edo State, not even when I am a deputy governor. Even if I am an ordinary citizen, I should have a right. I should have freedom.
“I didn’t know he (Obaseki) would arm them (gunmen) that much. I remember the governor saying during this crisis when I declared to contest for the governor that if I continued, he would destroy me.
“With what happened yesterday, it was obvious that it was an orchestrated attempt to actualise that statement that he was going to destroy me.”
“One of my main cardinal goals is to strengthen institutions. I am seeing the institution of the office of the deputy governor being destroyed by the governor for personal gain,” he stated, adding:
“That is why I am fighting to bring back the sanity of the office of the deputy governor not for my personal self. The governor has not paid me for the past year and I know he is not going to pay me for the remaining four months.”
