Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, said on Thursday that the series of intimidation he has suffered in his political life has made him stronger in his aspiration to become the next governor of the state.
Returning his completed governorship nomination form to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shaibu, who alleged that elders of the PDP in Edo State have been compromised, boasted that he is sure of victory because the youths are for him.
He said: “I will tell the leadership of PDP that some of us have been harassed, I have received a lot of intimidation but unfortunately for me, it is like a cross that God has asked me to carry.
“All my life has been a life of harassment and intimidation but in all the intimidations, I have always come out successful.
“This PDP primary is also going to be the same because now, they are buying people. They have bought all the elders but they have not been able to buy the youths.
“All the elders they have bought them except the elders that have they youths in mind. This is another challenge. It will get to a time when the money they are using to buy those guys, they will bring some of the money to me and I will use some of them to campaign so that PDP will win.”
Shaibu said he doesn’t look ruffled “because I know the result from the beginning. When I will win an election, I know. When I am not intimidated, that means that that election will not be successful. The intimidation and harassment show the character of my victory. When you don’t intimidate me, I don’t win an election.”
The deputy governor said he is contesting for governor today, not because he has inordinate ambition but “to save Edo state from businessmen that now want to take over the state.”
“We have already dealt with the issue to godfatherism but it is rearing its ugly head again.
“I am happy that the governor had told us that even if he tries to bring somebody as a godfather that we should deal with him.”
He assured the party’s leadership that “My support is organic and with Philip Shaibu, PDP will retain its seat in Edo state.
“If you give me this ticket, from the day I am announced as the PDP candidate, Labour Party, APC, YPP, SDP, they will all move to PDP, there will be mass movement of people coming into our party.”
