Charles Idahosa, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees representing the South-South geopolitical zone, stated on Wednesday that Governor Godwin Obaseki cannot stop his deputy, Philip Shaibu, from running for governor.
Until a recent ceasefire, the governor and his deputy were at odds over Shaibu’s ambition to run for governor in 2024, while his principal is alleged to prefer a candidate from Edo Central, the zone vying to produce the state’s next governor.
This resulted in Shaibu being ejected from his office, and he was transferred to another office outside the Government House, where he remains now because his prior office is still shut.
Idahosa said it was obvious that the next step for the deputy governor was to aspire for a higher position, noting that it is not within the right of the governor to stop his deputy from aspiring to a higher position.
He said, “I was disappointed when the rift became public. I was also taken aback by some of the comments of the leaders in Edo State. The major problem we have is weak leadership. What we see here is that people are afraid of telling the truth to power.
“The governor has no right to tell the deputy governor the limit of his political ambition. Obaseki didn’t need to fight Shaibu; the fight was totally uncalled for. What he should have done is sell his candidate to the leaders of the party, who will in turn work for that candidate instead of allowing the issue to degenerate.
“The way deputy governors are being treated in the country, the position will no longer be appealing. After serving as the deputy governor, the next step is to aspire for the position of the governor. So, Shaibu has not done anything wrong.”
Idahosa, a former political adviser to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, also stated that the next governor of the state should be a “homeboy” who is familiar with the terrain, adding that those clamoring for a specific zone to produce the governor should be aware that there has never been a time in the state’s political history when a zone was given the exclusive right to present the governor.
“When it comes to politics, we need someone who knows the terrain and is a part of the people.” You don’t bring someone who doesn’t know who we are. “We need someone who is a part of us right now,” Idahosa said.
Idahosa, who also addressed the PDP’s divisions, stated, “I just pray the PDP puts its house in order before the election” .
