Former deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has opened up about his tumultuous relationship with Governor Godwin Obaseki, which ultimately led to his impeachment in April.
News About Nigeria reports that Shaibu, in an interview with The Punch revealed that he had foreseen the conflict and had taken steps to protect himself and his family.
According to Shaibu, some politicians in the state had urged him to accept being Obaseki’s running mate, despite his initial reservations.
He accepted reluctantly, warning his colleagues that he sensed a future fight.
He said, “I envisaged that things would end this way and that things were not going to be fine. That was why I was the last person within our group to accept Obaseki when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole put him forward. Out of respect for Oshiomhole, I accepted. We were also told that he was coming in with private-sector ideas and that there was likely going to be a recession which we would need Obaseki to help us battle. But I warned that this man was going to destroy the house, and it eventually happened.
“When I was nominated to be Obaseki’s running mate, I was not interested but people in our team like Chris Okaeben, Washington Osifo, Larry Aghedo, Andrew Momodu, and Abbas Braimoh and other young people came to talk to me to accept the offer. They said if I refused the offer, we (the young people) would not have a representative in the government. I accepted reluctantly but I told them that I see a fight in the future. The first year was full of tension but Comrade (Oshiomhole) and his former deputy, Pius Odubu, told me that the government had just started and that I had no choice. Comrade told me I had to be loyal to the governor and that I was at his mercy. That was when I knew something would go wrong
Shaibu’s suspicion proved accurate, as tensions surfaced towards the end of their time in office.
To avoid potential embarrassment, Shaibu and his family refused to live in the government house, instead residing in their private residence.
Shaibu was eventually asked to vacate his office in the government house and relocated to a makeshift one in Benin City.
He said, “First, I told my wife that we were not going to live in the Government House but in our private residence so that when there was a fight, I wouldn’t be told to pack my things out of the Government House because it would be disgraceful.
“She asked me why I felt that way, and I told her I had a premonition that all would not be well. My wife said we should pray about it, but seven years later, what I predicted happened. Imagine looking for vehicles to pack our belongings out of the Government House.
“My office was relocated out of the Government House which was the only thing connecting the governor and me. I am happy that my office was only relocated out of the Government House.”
Shaibu’s troubles culminated in his impeachment in April, following a report from a seven-man panel appointed by the State’s Chief Judge.
The report found him guilty of sharing government documents, leading to his removal from office.
In response, Shaibu vowed to fight the “injustice” and protect Edo State and democracy’s future. He denied the allegations, stating that his desire to run for Edo State Governor in 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was within his rights as a Nigerian citizen.
Shaibu criticised the Assembly members for betraying their duty to the people who elected them.
