On Friday, the restored deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, accused his principal, Godwin Obaseki, of denying him admission into the state.
Shaibu and Obaseki have been at odds over matters related to the state’s governorship race for several months.
The 54-year-old claimed this in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today, two days after the Federal High Court in Abuja approved his reinstatement as deputy governor.
“Yesterday, I got intel that the governor has told his men that they must not allow me into town. I am an Edo State native, and no one can prevent me from visiting the state,” he stated.
“The constitution guarantees my right to enter Edo State, regardless of my position as deputy governor. Even as an ordinary citizen, I should have the right to freedom of movement.”
Shaibu recounted his announcement to run for the governorship ticket under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in November 2023. He alleged that Governor Obaseki threatened to destroy him in response.
Describing himself as a devout Catholic, the deputy governor stated that only God has the power to destroy a person. He vowed to continue his fight throughout the electioneering period until the governorship election on September 21.
Shaibu accused Governor Obaseki of orchestrating an attack in Benin City on Thursday, claiming the governor was following through on his earlier threat.
“I didn’t expect him (Obaseki) to arm the gunmen so heavily. I recall the governor saying during this crisis, when I declared my candidacy, that if I continued, he would destroy me. The events of yesterday clearly show an orchestrated attempt to fulfill that threat,” Shaibu said.
He also mourned the loss of a police inspector who was killed during the attack on his convoy and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in Benin City.
On Thursday, both Obaseki and Okpebholo narrowly escaped death when their convoy was attacked by suspected gunmen in Benin City. Tragically, Okon, a police inspector attached to Okpebholo, was killed in the ensuing shootout.
During a public address, Shaibu pledged to work hard to preserve the integrity of the deputy governor’s office. He accused Obaseki of undermining his office and claimed he had not been paid for the past year.
Shaibu stated, “One of my main goals is to strengthen institutions. I see the office of the deputy governor being destroyed by the governor for personal gain. That’s why I’m fighting to restore the dignity of this office, not for my personal benefit. The governor hasn’t paid me for the past year, and I know he won’t pay me for the remaining four months.”