The Odds Were Not In Favour Of Philip Shaibu Succeeding Me As Gov – Obaseki
EDO State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has stated that he cannot risk backing his erstwhile deputy, Philip Shaibu, to succeed him as the state’s leader.
The former deputy governor was early this month impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly after disclosing official information.
Despite charges in some quarters that the Edo State governor deserted his erstwhile ally, Obaseki said the political dynamics in the South-South state did not favour his former deputy taking over the reins of power at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City.
Speaking on a Channels TV programme on Monday, the governor said, “For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.
“So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people.”
In the wake of his impeachment, Shaibu had described the development as an attack on the country’s democracy.
“This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear,” he said in a social media video post.
“It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media
