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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has described as null and void and of no effect, a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Edo North held at the instance of Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a former deputy governor of the state.
Addressing a crowd of supporters in his country-home in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area shortly after the Auchi Day Annual Celebration, Shaibu said the meeting is a slight on his person and office as a sitting Deputy Governor of the state.
“Information reaching me says that Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, an elder of our party, called a meeting of PDP leaders in the six local governments of Edo North in his country-home, Fugar, Etsako Central local government and pressurized them to endorse one of the aspirants for the forthcoming governorship primary election in the state.
“To me, that meeting was not held, because by virtue of my office as Deputy Governor, I remain the leader of the PDP in Edo North and Deputy Leader of the party in the state. Any meeting held in the Senatorial Zone without my knowledge is deemed null and void.
“I respect Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as my elder and as my predecessor in office. Any meeting held in Edo North without my knowledge or input remains null and void.
“Chief Oghiadomhe could not allow such a thing to happen when he was in office as Deputy Governor and as a leader of Edo North. PDP is a party of structure and of hierarchy well defined in its Constitution. I plead with all of you to remain calm and not be provoked by this action because after the primaries, we need to come together as members of the PDP, so, we will need everybody to win the main election in September.
“Chief Oghiadomhe is trying to provoke us but we will remain calm because this project is not about Philip Shaibu, it is God’s own project. You all saw what happened at the Otaru’s palace today. It was very clear that God has a hand in this project”, the deputy governor said.
At the said meeting attended by some leaders of the PDP in the area, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, Sen. Yisa Braimoh, Hon. Johnson Agbolagba and others, the attendees were said to have unanimously adopted Asue Ighodalo as their preferred aspirant ahead of the PDP governorship primary election.
