Hon. Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, has shared details of his contributions to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration and the subsequent marginalization he faced.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja following his meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) late Wednesday, Shaibu expressed frustration at being sidelined despite his significant sacrifices for the governor.
Shaibu also addressed rumors regarding the return of 22 official vehicles in his possession, asserting that all vehicles, except one—a Jeep given to him by the governor in their third year—are his personal property.
Asked if he could ever forgive Obaseki, the deputy governor said; “You know human beings have different ways of behaving and the only perfect person is the Almighty God. Every other person who is created by God, none of us is perfect. But at the same time, God gave us a commandment like every other country’s constitution. One of the greatest commandments in the world is to love your neighbour as yourself. And if all of us can take to that commandment, there will be peace in the whole world. Because what you cannot do to yourself you will not want to do it to others.
“I used to use the word perfect relationship. But I have just discovered that there is no perfect relationship with what has happened between the governor and I.
“From my own end, I gave everything. I gave all to have him succeed because, for me, it is about the state and the state in everything. So, I gave all, up my earnings. Even to my official earnings. I forfeited lots of my official entitlements. Why? Because I didn’t want any trouble or disagreement. And the easiest way you can have disagreements could be money. Even my official entitlement, most of them I didn’t apply for. As small as 28 days, that is the first earning that you earn whether as a civil servant or in government, the first and second terms I didn’t have it. That is, anything that has to do with going to meet the governor, to apply for anything even personal entitlements or official entitlements, I didn’t. I confined myself to the official salary that came to me.
“Recently, I saw an advert that I should return 22 vehicles. Only one vehicle in the seven and half years that the governor bought for my convoy. Only one. Every vehicle you see in my convoy, some of them, especially the land cruiser I used for three years with the Coat of Arms and flag as a staff car. The Prado that I used as a backup for three years was the Prado that I used as majority leader of Edo State House of Assembly. The Hilux that I was using in the state assembly and the one I bought when I came to the House of Representatives. It was the third year of his first term that the governor eventually bought a land cruiser jeep. And even when they were bringing the land cruiser jeep it had an accident on the way. We had to now change wheels and it took two weeks for us to fix it. A new car that they were bringing to me. It took two weeks for us to fix it. And you know the convoy of a deputy governor. I never made it an issue because for me, anything that will bring trouble I was able to manage it”.
Noting that the task of returning APC to the Government House is one that involves all Edo people, Shaibu said Obaseki’s dictatorial grip on the state can no longer be tolerated.
