From Paul Orude Bauchi
There seems to be no end in sight over the frosty relationship between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his embattled Deputy Phillip Shaibu as Obaseki has publicly declined to endorse Shaibu to run as governor come 2024.
Speaking with journalists in Bauchi after a closed door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Obaseki argued that although Shaibu has the constitutional right to contest, his one vote cannot guarantee his success.
Obaseki opined that the fate of his deputy governor was in the hands of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the people of Edo State.
When asked by journalists if he would support Shaibu to run as governor, Obaseki said: “I’m only one out of millions of our party members in Edo State. I don’t think my vote alone will determine whether he becomes the party’s flag bearer.
“The party will decide and also members of the party will decide who will be the flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming governorship election.”
As the relationship between the two politicians deteriorates and threatens the chances of the party at the polls, Obaseki insisted there was no cause for alarm.
“The relationship, as you know, has been cordial.
“He (Philip) wants to run for the office I currently occupy and he is free to.
“I think as a Nigerian, he has the constitutional right to run, nobody can or should stop him”
He however disclosed that the issue was one of the reasons he visited Bauchi.
“We came to see Governor Bala and as you know, he’s our Chairman, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; so we decided to come and see him this afternoon, to congratulate him on his victory and discuss some issues relating to the PDP Governors’ Forum,” Obaseki, who was in company with former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, said.
It will be recalled that the relationship between Shuibu and his principal became acrimonious when the former indicated his interest to contest as governor.
The relationship between them degenerated into a court case, with Obaseki relocating Shaibu’s office out of the government house.
Not minding Obaseki’s opposition, Shaibu dared his boss and formally declared his governorship ambition on Monday in Benin-City.