WAR START: GOV. OBASEKI AND OSHIOMHOLE AT LOGGERHEADS OVER CHOICE OF RUNNING MATE AHEAD OF GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS

Secret Reporters

As the Edo State gubernatorial election begins building to a crescendo; it appears that the high-level power play that was witnessed in Lagos State which saw the ouster of the then incumbent governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode may also be replicated in Edo State.

Information made available to SecretReporters reveals that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is the godfather of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State as well as the National Chairman of the party is currently at loggerheads with the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki which according to sources may hinder him from picking his second term ticket in the state.

We gathered that the party’s hierarchy and members who felt they were not being adequately compensated by the governor for being loyal to the party at the state and national level, promptly communicated their grievances to Oshiomhole who is seen as a godfather in Edo State politics. This led to a resolution just as it happened in Lagos State, that Gov. Obaseki must not be returned next year when his 4-year term expires.

However, sources disclosed that after vehement pleas by the governor and other bigwigs in the state, Oshiomhole eventually agreed that Gov. Obaseki would be returned for a second term on the condition that his Deputy Philip Shaibu must be dropped and another selected to replace him.

This according to insider sources was the only condition for the return of Gov. Obaseki as the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu who was allegedly brought in from the House of Representatives to represent the interest of Oshiomhole in the government and also tipped to be the heir apparent to government house after Obaseki finishes his Eight (8) years of governance has not been able to exert his full authority as Deputy Governor in fulfilling his master’s wish viz a viz greasing his palms.

“As at the beginning of last week, choosing another running mate was the only condition Oshiomhole gave to Obaseki if he must be the APC gubernatorial candidate next year. And I am sure that Oshiomhole will bring someone who will be the heir apparent; other things being equal. But other things are never equal especially in Politics,” stated a political source.

Another source who also spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity squealed that Philip Shaibu is also coming under serious attack by Oshiomhole because he has become a threat to his continued reign as “the godfather” as he (Oshiomhole) had discovered that the former was working hard to establish his own dynasty and overthrow him as the party’s warlord in Edo North. This according to our source allegedly gave rise to the slogan “Shaibu must go. No compromise!”