By Zib-ak Aiyeke
Wike’s question for the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu of “who is your father?” has generated so much commentaries. The opinions are so sharply divided as they are varied, but all bothered on its propriety.
However, in determining the legitimacy or otherwise of the question, so many variables of Philip Shaibu should be profoundly x-rayed and dissected. Since Philip’s foray in partisan politics, he has always made headline news, mostly for the wrong reasons. His pseudo activism began in the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), a body he served as a factional president without any laudable achievement.
It was at his time armed conflict gained recognition in the politics of NANS. The Port-Harcourt NANS convention which he organised was characterised by armed confrontation amongst Nigerian students. Also, all the people such as Honourable Luqman Mohammed that provided links and contacts in government which Philip leveraged on that enabled him outshine the other factional NANS president of his time are today his arch-enemies.
So many stories abound of Philip’s turning back on his benefactors. Of particular note is his friend who assisted him greatly while growing up he made to relocate to Nigeria from one of the oversea countries with promises of providing leeway and leverages for him in Edo State Government. With time, without offering him anything tangible, he turned his friend to roasted plantain buyer for him while playing golf at the Benin club. Out of frustration, the young man turned to his cousin who provided succour that enabled him travel to his base.
Till date, for over four years, he has made no efforts to know his friend’s whereabouts. Let this single story suffice for now.
In the politics of Edo State particularly, Philip has elevated thuggery to unprecedented level and has turned an illiterate local coffin maker, Holyman, his alleged marksman, to a celebrity in his community. This being aftermath of Holyman’s dare-devilry and readiness to exterminate any of Philip’s perceived enemies. It was, therefore, no surprise that Philip while being on the entourage of the Vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was recently in Edo State for the installation of the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, as the Oduma of Auchi Sacred Kingdom, breached protocol to recognise and without shame received Holyman and his gang of never-do-wells.
This one like his other outings in Edo North, Holyman and his gang are known to provide illegal armed security cover for Philip.
Needless to mention that Philip was more of a thug than a law maker in his days as member of the Edo House of Assembly. He was constantly involved in spat of armed conflicts at the Assembly, some of which resulted in the hospitalisation of several Honourable members of the House for various degree of injuries and till date carry permanent scars on their bodies.
It is discernible that Philip is enveloped in intelligence trap of a poor performer, an unconscious incompetent. He thinks he knows it all, but does not know that he does not know. Being consumed in his mechanical attitude and obstinacy he does not positively receive any advise rendered him from deep seat of knowledge and experience.
He enjoys the company of loafers and scornfuls where everyone listens to him to pontificate. In this, he is praised as the messiah and thereby carries a bloated ego. Anywhere he does not call the shots must be brought down. This is one of the reasons he is again, as he was in the All Progressives Congress (APC), enmeshed in crisis of supremacy in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Philip is roundly controversial. His controversies are in his parentage as in his life pursuits. So much insinuations and murmurings were made of his parentage and this was adequately echoed and brought to fore by a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief Jarret Tenebe in one of the campaign rallies of the party in the last gubernatorial election in Edo. His educational achievements from the primary level to the highest he parades are a charade. On these two scores of parentage and education, Philip knows something is amiss. He carries this personal burden till death unless he summons the unlikely courage to speak on them for the understanding of the people.
That Philip is not well schooled is noticed in his lack of intellectual depth, poor presentation in the English language with his cut and nail style. Thus his rabble-rousing and muscle flexing are consequences of his emptiness. Despite these obvious shortcomings but armed with his pseudo activism credential, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, his “father’s” friend picked him up to mentor. From the gutters where Oshiobaba picked him up, he has become who he is that he so prides himself about today.
And true to his ungrateful nature, alien to the uzairue stock of the Edo people, Philip has in un-mistakable terms made efforts to reduce Oshiomole to the rubbles.
He looks his mentor on the face and spews venom, turns away with hatred and betrayals. Oshiomole reared a Cobra in his bedroom who on the day it was hungry made him the quickest meal. Why would anyone query Wike asking who is his father?
What goes round must come around. Nature plays no favourite. The law of compensation (in multiples) so interwoven and intertwined in the laws of attraction and reciprocal action operate inexorably, un-interruptedly and un-concerned with man in creation. Philip has put many negatives in creation and must receive of it. And this must happen. Until he realises and begins to sow positive seeds, the harvest remains plentiful for him.
I don’t wish him any less as he navigates to absorb himself of all his sowings in order to be lifted up in creation. He should take all that comes to him with joy and thanksgiving.