Many months ago, there were rumours of a rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
Gatekeepers News reports that this was confirmed after Shaibu approached the court, seeking protection from his boss – Obaseki to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.
However, Shaibu’s fear of impeachment has always been his back-up plan due to his alleged secret allegiance to the former Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
A source who is in the know of the rift noted that the Deputy Governor’s move was only a preemptive move to prevent impeachment and keep his position.
Over two months ago, there were reports that Shaibu boasted of using the system of former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in Edo State.
There has also been reports that the Deputy Governor (a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) has been in talks with the All Progressives Congress at the national level, in a bid to decamp.
Not only this, further reports revealed that Shaibu has been in talks with members of the PDP from the state who have already decamped to the APC.
This is because Shaibu is aware that the zoning system in PDP will not favour him, and the feeling that he can’t fulfill his ambition in PDP.
The source who spoke to Gatekeepers News noted that the Deputy Governor has never been pleased with his boss’ move to PDP as he never bought the idea.
The source noted that “Impeaching him has never been contemplated, so it is a strategy by him to prevent it and keep his office while fighting to succeed HE.
“He started his surreptitious move immediately after the 2023 presidential election by forming a campaign group in all the wards across the state.”
“He is driven by his inordinate ambition,” the source said.
The source added, “Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who handed over to HE is from Etsako West same as the DG, and he wants HE to hand over to him, what then happens to the other LGAs in the North and then the Central too who have never tasted power
“HE has told him that it is not time for politics so that governance does not suffer. He maintains that at the appropriate time, attention will be given to politics but he is not ready for that and wants governance to be abandoned for politics.
“His move is to force HE (Obaseki) into the trenches, and has insisted on HE supporting him as the next Governor.”
The source stressed that “By this move he is just digging his grave as there are no plans to impeach him,” adding that “He has shown that he can’t manage his ambition.”
The source stated that the Governor was “not prepared to dirty our hands with him.
“He has shown that he lacks the courage to approach HE and discuss his ambition with him instead he is going about it in a surreptitious manner.
“The move is a defensive mechanism by him
“The only thing HE (Obaseki) has done was to insist on him following established government protocol which he fragrantly breaches.
“Since then, he has been on the war path with HE by sponsoring Enwanta Adaze, a former disgruntled commissioner, who is one of his stooges to attack HE (Obaseki).
