Plans by Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki suffered an early setback on Sunday night as the management of the proposed venue for his declaration scheduled for today, Monday, rescinded the approval earlier granted him.
GRANDNEWS ONLINE reports that despite very clear cold signals from the camp of the Governor over his ambition, Shaibu threw his hat in the ring for the 2024 governorship race.
Shaibu had scheduled his formal declaration to pick the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Monday, November 27, at Ethano Hotel at 8.00 am.
However, things changed when the Governor’s camp in a swift counter move, claimed the same venue has been booked by it for an event for 7.30 am same day that has to do with the governor.
The event simply tagged “FINISHING WELL”, a source said, “is one of those things that make politics interesting and exciting. The event has put a stop to the declaration by Shaibu, at least for tomorrow”.
The development, GRANDNEWS ONLINE learnt has generated palpable political tension within the PDP which may trigger another round of renewed hostilities between Obaseki and Shaibu.
Obaseki is believed to favour the zoning of the governorship ticket of the PDP to Edo Central, citing the popular rotational policy which though unwritten is widely accepted across the state. Shaibu is from Edo North while Governor Obaseki is from Edo South. He took over from Senator Adams Oshiomhole who hails from Edo North.
But Shaibu is said to have dismissed all talks of rotation with a wave of the hand saying competence and ability to deliver should be paramount in deciding who leads the state in 2024.
He had warned against handing the ticket of the PDP to another technocrat from outside the state like Obaseki himself who was allegedly gifted the governorship seat by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Invitations to Monday’s events by the governor and his deputy at the same venue about the same time have created tension in the state capital.
The commissioner for communication, Chris Nehikhare, told an online newspaper, Green White Green (GWG) that he was not invited for the deputy governor’s event and that if he was invited, he would not attend.
Shaibu had sent out invitations to some prominent stakeholders under the aegis of the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation in a letter dated November 23 personally signed by him.
The letter, which was titled “Special Invitation,” read, “On behalf of Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation, I invite you to honour me with your esteemed presence as I offer myself to serve as the Chief Servant (Governor) of Edo State.”
Nehikhare articulated the government’s response to Shaibu’s scheduled declaration thus: “He is free to contest now that the timetable is out. All that the government had been saying before was that it was too early to heat up the polity.
“But now that the time table is out, he is free to contest, our government does not stifle the ambitions of anyone.”
Asked if Shaibu had invited the governor for the declaration, Nehikhare claimed ignorance but said he, (Commissioner) had not been invited.
“He has not invited me, but if he invites me, I will not attend.”
Another source told this newspaper that “Standing Firm: Obaseki Finishing Well Group’s Declaration” had actually secured the venue more than two weeks ago and the organisers were miffed that Shaibu was always seeking occasions to lower the reputation of the Governor in the public eye.
The Governor Obaseki program is scheduled to run through the afternoon and end by 3 pm.
