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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has explained why he did not support the ambition of his former deputy, Philip Shaibu, to succeed him as governor of the state.
Speaking on Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today,’ on Monday night, Obaseki said he could not risk supporting Shaibu to succeed him as governor of the state because the “odds does not favour” the former deputy governor.
“For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.
“So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people,” he said.
Obaseki, according to reports, favours a power shift to Edo Central because he is from Edo South while his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole and Shaibu hail from Edo North.
Shaibu was removed from office by the Edo State House of Assembly over allegations of leaking government secrets.
But the former deputy governor has since denied the allegations, saying his removal was a plot “hatched because of political ambition.” He is currently challenging his removal in court.
Shaibu’s removal from office was the height of his political rift with Obaseki, who described him as “overambitious” over his governorship aspiration.
Obaseki, who hailed the state assembly for removing his former deputy, had since appointed and swore in Omobayo Godwin, a 38-old engineer, as Shaibu’s deputy.
The governor’s preferred successor, Asue Ighodalo, hails from Edo Central and he emerged the PDP candidate
Ighodalo, a former banker, emerged as PDP candidate for the September 21 governorship election at a primary held in February.