Obaseki failed to secure federal support for Edo — Shaibu

The former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has praised the state’s Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for securing federal government support within his first 100 days in office — something he claimed was not possible under the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki.

Shaibu stated this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, adding that attracting federal government support to Edo State would free up funds for more projects in the state.

He noted that Okpebholo had successfully engaged with the federal government, a step he and former Governor Godwin Obaseki did not take while in office.

“The clever thing Governor Okpebholo has done, which I applaud him for and which we didn’t do, is his ability to engage with the centre and secure federal support,” Shaibu said.

“The support coming from the federal government will free up the state’s resources for other developments. That is what he is cleverly doing, and I think it will help him drive development more quickly.”

He acknowledged that Obaseki’s administration, in which he served, also had good intentions but claimed that political interests interfered along the way.

Reflecting on his experience in government, Shaibu urged people to pray for their leaders, noting that if a governor fails, the entire state suffers.

“Every government, including ours, genuinely wanted to implement good policies, but along the way, politics and vested interests got in the way.

“That is why, without mincing words, each time I call for support for Okpebholo, I also urge people to pray for him so that the forces that cause leaders to change for the worse do not affect him,” he said.

Shaibu and Obaseki, once close allies, fell out in the run-up to the September 21, 2024 governorship election, leading Shaibu to return to the All Progressives Congress.

Okpebholo, who was the APC candidate, was eventually declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.