A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Dr. Washington Osa Osifo has said that the crisis between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu in Edo State has been ongoing for several years. It all began when Obaseki, a stranger to the political landscape, became the governor in 2016 and disrupted the existing order.
Osifo stated this when he appeared on Sunrise daily on channels Television on Monday. He said those who predicted a clash between Obaseki and Shaibu knew that there would be trouble.
Philip Shaibu and I are friends, and during the 14 House of Assembly Members saga, I chose not to mention his name. As friends, we have helped each other politically, and I did not want to drag him into the mud of political interests.
However, it is important to note that Shaibu played a key role in orchestrating the 14 assembly saga, along with the Secretary to the State Governor, Osarodion Ogie, Esq. while Obaseki looked on approvingly.
In 2016, Obaseki never truly wanted Shaibu as his deputy, but his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was trying to strike a balance between a technocrat and a politician that was why he picked Obaseki despite the resistance by members of the party them.
Shaibu also never wanted Obaseki and predicted that he would destroy the party if given the chance to lead the state. Initially, this was dismissed as a result of their personal rivalry.
As time went on, Obaseki’s suspicions of Shaibu persisted, and their relationship deteriorated after the Elections.
When Obaseki fell out with Oshiomhole. Obaseki saw in Shaibu a willing tool to bring down his former mentor, and Shaibu, knowing that Obaseki had never wanted him, seized the opportunity to cooperate. However, a reconciled enemy cannot be trusted, and it was clear that Shaibu also had his own reservations about Obaseki’s leadership.
However, when Obaseki forgave Shaibu, it raised suspicions. Shaibu knew that he had to take advantage of the situation to secure as much as he could for himself while the dance was still ongoing.
The current crisis in the Edo government house is a direct result of Shaibu’s plans to contest the 2024 governorship election.
Osifo further said that Shaibu recently approached him seeking forgiveness for his role in the 14 APC members swearing and also asked for my support in the upcoming election. While I forgave him, I made it clear that I could not support him as he is not a member of our party. During our conversation, it was evident that he was not on good terms with the governor, and he mentioned the possibility of continuing his political journey elsewhere.
The root cause of the crisis lies in Obaseki’s refusal to allow Shaibu to contest the 2024 elections as his chosen successor. Shaibu, being ambitious, does not take kindly to being denied the opportunity to succeed his boss. If the crisis is not managed properly, it has the potential to be more destructive than cancer for PDP in the state.
Furthermore, this situation can be seen as karma. Obaseki himself is planning to impeach his deputy governor, and it is clear that he is someone who does not embark on a journey without ruthlessly seeing it through to the end.
In conclusion, the crisis between Governor Obaseki and Deputy Governor Shaibu in Edo State is a result of their strained relationship, fueled by suspicions and ambitions. If the crisis is not resolved effectively, it has the potential to have severe consequences for the state. The current situation is indicative of the turbulent and unpredictable nature of politics in Edo State, which seems to always be in the news for the wrong reasons.