The deputy governor of Edo State, who is also the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s 2024 governorship candidate, Philip Shaibu, has said that he feels betrayed by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, after all he invested in supporting his political career.
Shaibu, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, emphasized that he later even realized that in all his investments in supporting Obaseki’s second term, he was duped.
“I feel betrayed by the governor. I lost about 20% of my political capital in Edo north to support Godwin Obaseki and in supporting him, even as a deputy governor with no line financially, through my friends and all that, I supported the second term bid of the governor with my structure, all my vehicles and my finances including how we got the ticket of PDP, I contributed in naira and in dollars and I discovered that I was even duped. So, if I say betrayal, it’s an understatement. I feel hurt and betrayed.”
The deputy governor also categorically stated that he was not interested in becoming a deputy governor but gave in after a month of persuasion by his supporters.
“Actually, I was persuaded. I didn’t want to be deputy governor. I was very comfortable as a representative. It took almost one month to get me to be the deputy governor of Edo state and there was no protest.
“It was persuasion and my supporters said, look you must be there and I accepted. So as to add value to the ticket of Obaseki because Obaseki was not known and was not one of the politicians. So, they needed a young, vibrant politician that has won elections before and can add political value to the ticket.”
Shaibu further said he is the right person to lead the people of Edo state as he is one man who feels the emotion of the people. He added that the people of Edo are done with experimenting and now want an actual leader.
He said unlike Obaseki, who uses taxpayer’s money to procure support, he (Shaibu) has very organic supporters.
