The convivial atmosphere that pervaded the venue of the 4th Annual National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, was abruptly disrupted at the popular Ladi Kwali Conference Centre in the Abuja Continental Hotel over claims to legitimacy.
This followed the inappropriate conduct exhibited by one of the former deputy governors of Edo State, Mr Philip Shaibu, who rudely shouted on top of his voice and disrupted the proceedings when his successor in office, Mr Omobayo Godwins was introduced as former deputy governor of Edo State,
The verbal war erupted when the Mast of Ceremony (MC) introduced Omobayo Godwins as one of the former deputy governors of Edo State and almost immediately, Philip Shaibu jumped from his seat and countered the MC saying that Godwins was never a deputy governor.
Expectedly, Omobayo Godwins, who served as deputy to former Governor Godwin Obaseki when Shaibu was impeached in 2024, also jumped up from his seat and countered Shaibu as he also shouted that he was deputy governor of the State.
In the words of Shaibu; “This guy is not a former deputy governor of Edo State. There is a court ruling that nullified his appointment as deputy governor. He should not be accorded such a privileged recognition”.
Similarly, Omobayo Godwins, who replaced Shaibu in April 2024 following his impeachment, quickly fired back from his seat saying; “I was a legitimate deputy governor with every apparatus of office and there is nothing you can do about it and I insist and stand on it”.
The verbal altercation which degenerated into a shouting match between Shaibu and Godwin created serious tension and disrupted the proceedings of the conference for more than ten minutes.
It later took the intervention of some other former deputy governors present to calm strained nerves as some other were already trying to take sides with the two divides.
The two former deputy governors were later allowed to participate at the conference as bona fide members of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria.
