Shaibu Is Planning To Defect To APC-Obaseki
*Insists he has perfected the defection plan.
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has alleged that his Deputy, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, has perfected plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as part of his conquest to land the 2024 governorship ticket.
Obaseki, who denied knowledge of any impeachment plot as alleged by the deputy governor, made the revelation in Benin City on Monday while addressing Edo North leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to the governor, Shaibu has been hob-nobbing with senior actors (he did not identify), both at the national and state levels of the opposition APC and is at the verge of finally negotiating his way back into the party fold.
“It’s clear what has happened in the last few weeks. It is a preemptive move for him to conclude what he has started. Those of you from Akoko-Edo can recall that when we were discussing the issue of your local government chairman and that of Owan, there was a lot of resistance from you on the candidates he wanted to impose on you. I listened to your entreaties and thought that what you were recommending was fair. How can he be recommending the son of an APC leader in that local government? You resisted and I saw reason and acceded to your request.
“The next day, I saw on social media that he was in Abuja with the opposition party. I have heard for months now that he has been in closed consultation with friends from another party because he was not sure that you, the leaders of PDP, will give him the ticket as governor in 2024.”
Governor Obaseki, who denied his involvement in any plan to impeach the deputy governor, pointed out that hearing about it in the news, particularly the court action in Abuja, waa shocking and disappointing.
“Let me put it on record that I am not aware of any plot or any scheme to impeach the Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.
“So, the Court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.”
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