The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has dismissed remarks credited to the National Vice Chairman (South South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, which accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of defrauding him of $300,000 during the run-up to the party’s primary for the 2020 governorship election.
A statement signed by Shaibu and made available to newsmen in Benin City, the state capital, he said there was no iota of truth about any $300,000 exchanging hands between himself and his boss ahead of 2020 election.
The statement reads: “Nothing can be farther from the truth. I want to state without equivocation that no such transaction ever occurred. It even betrays reasons that I, as Deputy Governor, would have to send the governor, my boss, on an errand to hand money to a party leader. It is an aberration of the highest proportion that deserves no contemplation.
“I, therefore, condemn the rumour in its entirety and urge that the insinuations be disregarded, as it has no basis in facts.”
Orbih had during the yuletide accused Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of swindling his deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu of $300, 000 during the run up to the party’s primary for the 2020 governorship election.
He made the remark at his country home in Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Council, during a visit by some party members where he accused Obaseki of orchestrating the disunity in the party by betraying the agreement reached as regards the sharing of elective positions in the 2023 polls.
The immediate past state chairman of the party explained that he flew to Benin City to meet Obaseki and Shaibu after a peace parley in Abuja, which was brokered by the quartet of Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), who chaired the meeting.
The South South zonal national vice chairman said at the meeting, that after the Abuja agreement, he used the opportunity to look Obaseki in the face in presence of some PDP governors, and challenged him over allegations that he gave him and other top party members money to ensure that the House of Representatives member, Dr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, stepped down for him.
Orbih alleged that Shaibu had innocently confided in him that he gave $300,000 to the governor to give to him (Orbih) and a senatorial candidate for Edo South, being his contribution for the purchase of the PDP governorship ticket for the 2020 election.
He added: “I challenged him at the meeting to tell us whether he gave one kobo to me and the Edo South senatorial candidate or not. He said that he didn’t give us money and he didn’t tell anybody to give us money.
“I then turned to the deputy governor and said, ‘Shuaibu, you are sitting here. Did you not tell us that you gave $300,000 to Obaseki to add to the money for the ticket of PDP?’ Shaibu admitted that he said so, right in the presence of Obaseki. The other governors looked at themselves and shook their heads.”
Orbih said that at the meeting, which was chaired by Ortom, that it was agreed it was not fair to members of the Legacy Group, which he headed, that Obaseki should produce 13 candidates for the Edo House of Assembly (EDHA) race, while his supporters were given 11 slots.
