Edo 2024: PDP Stakeholders ‘ll Will Decide Shaibu’s Fate Not Me – Obaseki

• I remain unbroken – Deputy Gov

BY VICTOR BUORO – Ahead of next year’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki says the fate of his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu lies in the hands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the State.

Breaking his silence on Shaibu’s official governorship ambition declaration, Obaseki said only members of the PDP and not him would decide if Shaibu would emerge the Party’s gubernatorial flag bearer in the 2024 poll.

Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the Bauchi State Governor, and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed in Bauchi on Thursday, Obaseki said; “I am only one of the millions of party members in Edo state. I don’t think my vote alone can determine whether he becomes the party’s flag bearer.

“The relationship as you know is cordial; he wants to run for the office I currently occupy; he is free to, and I think as a Nigerian, he has a constitutional right nobody can’t and should stop him.”

Specifically on the likelihood of backing Shaibu openly for the PDP ticket, Governor Obaseki said; “The party would decide and also only the members of the party would decide who would be the flag bearer of our party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.”

On his visit to Bauchi, Governor Obaseki said he was in the State, with the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, to congratulate Mohammed whose victory at the March 18 poll was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja last week.

Obaseki further said the visit had to do with issues within the PDP and State of the nation, adding; “Things are not going as we want them to be and we are still rubbing our minds together to see how we save this country. How we can support the administration to see how we can ensure that we reduce the sufferings of Nigerians.”

“Things are very very difficult as you at this point in time, Nigerians are sufferings and the suffering is almost unprecedented, but I think we should stop lamenting and see what do we do as leaders; to put more food on table.

“The year is getting to an end; we have seen prices of food items going up; what will we as PDP governors do to ameliorate the sufferings of our people. These are some of things we came to talk about while preserving the unity of this country”.

Forefront News notes that Shaibu, who has been in a running battle with Obaseki, formally declared his ambition on Monday in a ceremony whose venue was changed at the dying-minute.

Quite unexpectedly, the hotel initially penciled down to host the event later refunded the booking deposit with the explanation that Governor Obaseki was also holding a programme which coincided with that on Shaibu’s schedule at the same time.

Undeterred, the Deputy Governor picked another venue where he told the cheering audience that there is no  stopping, adding; “I have been pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, badly hurt but not destroyed.

“I resonate with the tireless and irrepressible Spirit of the Edo People. By the grace of God, nothing and no one can stop us. After all, I am original Edo son, 100 percent home boy.”