Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has clarified why he didn’t support his former Deputy, Philip Shaibu, to succeed him.
Obaseki explained that the political dynamics in the state weren’t in Shaibu’s favor to become the Governor.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Obaseki stated, “I could not risk backing Shaibu to succeed me because I had to protect the Edo people.” He emphasized the need to safeguard the interests of the people.
Obaseki elaborated, “For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favor in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.”
He reiterated, “So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people.”
Once allies, Shaibu and Obaseki fell out when Shaibu made known his gubernatorial ambition. Later, Shaibu was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly over alleged disclosure of government information.