Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has thrown a jab at the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, with comments that the APC is not a rehabilitation camp for defeated and stranded political gladiators in search of refuge.
He made the comments in Benin City, the Edo State capital, during a condolence visit to the family of the Late Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, who died recently at the age of 93.
Responding to questions from newsmen about the political crisis rocking the state over the lawsuit filed by deputy governor Philip Shaibu against his principal governor Godwin Obaseki seeking the halt of an alleged plot to impeach him, Oshiomhole said it was an act of disloyalty and a legal dispute started over suspicions.
Questioning the wisdom of filing a lawsuit based on suspicion, he urged the Shaibu to display loyalty to his boss despite his reported lack of support for his governorship ambition, citing a similar situation when he was governor of the state. He said his own deputy, Pius Odubu, never took him to court even though he did not support his ambition to succeed him.
He also expressed his rejection of any attempt by Shaibu to return to the APC with a statement that the “APC is not a rehabilitation centre or an IDP camp for politicians who have lost out.” He explained further that the party is happy with its opposition status in the state and will not be giving a soft landing to disloyal political actors.
Philip Shaibu was a member of the APC until 2020 when he dumped the party with his principal after they were denied the party’s ticket to contest re-election. Shaibu, who hails from the same region as Oshiomhole, then proceeded on an acerbic attack campaign against the former governor, describing him as a “controlling godfather” suffering a mental decline.
He boasted of retiring Oshiomhole from politics in the state despite acknowledging that it was the former governor who mentored and facilitated his rise in politics, including his emergence as deputy to Obaseki.