By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo state deputy governor, Comrade philip Shaibu has claimed the credit of introducing the former Edo state governor, comrade Adams oshiomole into politics and similarly waving away threat of impeachment against him by the lawmakers.
Edo State deputy governor, Hon Phillip Shaibu, made the revelation in Okpekpe, Etsako East during a courtesy call on the Onwueweko of Okpekpe HRH Peter Osigbemeh (Apa), in his palace.
According to him, I took the responsibility for “introducing the former comrade governor into politics” and also taking him round the state to meet those who mattered most in Edo politics one on one. The credit of that feat belongs to me.
The deputy governor was in Okpekpe to receive defectors from the APC to the PDP.
“After his tenure as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC had ended, during which time he led the NLC on a string of anti-government protests on a wide range of issues, a battle-weary Comrade Oshiomole opted to continue his unionism by contesting by moving to the International Labour Organisation, ILO”, he said
The deputy governor said he played a fast one on the fiery former labour leader by convincing him to try his luck in politics, dangling the governorship position in the process.
Recall that both political gladiators, of Edo North extraction, emerged in the governance of the state almost at the same time.
While Shaibu was at the Edo state House of Assembly as a lawmaker, Oshiomole occupied the Government House, Benin City after a tortuous legal battle he mounted to reclaim his “stolen mandate” through the courts which sacked Prof Osunbor and declared him the actual winner.
Continuing his story,Hon Shaibu said he played a crucial role in saving the former comrade governor from impeachment by the then members of Edo state House of Assembly where he suffered a knee injury in the process.
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Dismissing “untrue” talks that he betrayed his political godfather, Hon Shaibu said it is rather the other way round, insisting that he brought the former APC national chairman into politics and even put his life on the line to save him from a possible impeachment.
He added that he fought many political battles to the comrade governor in power and, therefore, deserves some respect.
In particular, he said, “I was the one who put Edo State University, Iyamho, in the budget, when oshiomole lacked the courage. The present site was supposed to be a modern school but we converted it into a university.
“We put our fate in him, sowed the seed, and are supposed to reap the benefits but instead, at 76, he is still kneeling to beg for votes.
“The agreement we had with Oshiomole in 2007 was to change the face of Edo politics, say No to godfather politics, and promote the mantra of “one man one vote”.
” But the former comrade governor reneged and rubbished the lofty ideals we set out to accomplish. You can all see how he was finally unmasked as one who does not practice what he preaches”.
Hon Shaibu urged the defectors and the old PDP members to unite for the overall success of the party in the 2023 general elections and further assured the defectors of equal treatment notwithstanding they have just joined the party.
He also promised to put smiles on the faces of the people, saying they deserve the best for their undiluted loyalty, trust and support.
He also added that the wave of development sweeping across the state will touch every nook and cranny of the state and by the time it is fully executed all doubts about the intentions of the Obaseki administration would have been erased.
