Philip Shaibu

Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State has clarified that his political ambition does not affect his loyalty to the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, despite their ongoing rift.

Shaibu made this known on Sunday at a Thanksgiving Service to mark the 32nd anniversary of Edo State, held at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

The deputy governor described his principal as his elder brother, stressing that his loyalty had nothing to do with his ambition to become the governor of the state.

Shaibu asserted that he would continue to support Obaseki as the governor of the state from the beginning to the end.

He said: “As for the issues that are around town when I was away, I really would not want to talk. Issues that concern my governor are not things I like to speak about on camera. No, no, no! He is my elder brother and boss, and I don’t think I should talk about anything. And if I have issues with him, I think it is better settled at home and not in the media. I am well brought up,”

“I can tell you that from my Christian background, if you make a vow with God that you want to do something, you must fulfill it. And the vow I have taken with God is that I will continue to support Godwin Obaseki as the governor of Edo State from the beginning to the end.

“But that does not stop anything that has to do with ambition. Ambition is personal and it does not affect loyalty. My loyalty to the governor remains absolute. I see that everybody is doing solidarity. I am also in solidarity with the governor. I am also declaring my unalloyed solidarity and loyalty to the governor and nothing more.”

Recall that the deputy governor had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja and obtained an injunction to stop the governor and State Assembly from a plot to impeach him.

Reacting to the development, Governor Obaseki expressed shock at Shaibu’s action and accused his deputy of plotting a coup against him, further deepening the rift between the duo.

But in a swift reaction, the deputy governor said there was no truth to the coup allegation, adding that he has no plan to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).