In a bid to address the escalating tensions in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stepped forward to express its deep concerns regarding the ongoing face-off between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
This tussle, which has been unfolding for several months now, has garnered more attention than anticipated. It all began when Deputy Governor Shaibu declared his ambition to succeed Governor Obaseki in the upcoming 2024 elections. However, this move did not receive the expected support from Governor Obaseki.
To complicate matters further, Deputy Governor Shaibu resorted to legal action, seeking to halt his planned impeachment by Governor Obaseki. Later, he withdrew this case following interventions from key stakeholders.
Chief Dan Orbih, the PDP National Vice Chairman (South) and former chairman of the party in Edo, issued a statement from Abuja on Tuesday. He expressed his surprise at the public circulation of official state government letters, which are typically meant to be confidential.
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He urged both Governor Obaseki and Deputy Governor Shaibu to put their differences aside and work towards peace, especially with the governorship election scheduled for the next year.
Orbih said, “I have observed with trepidation, the frosty relations between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, and I am constrained to call on both parties to exercise restraint in what to say or do in the course of this ongoing needless and endless crisis.
“To my surprise, official letters, which should be confidential, are now dominating the social media space. I urge both parties to stop further hostilities and resolve their differences quietly in the interest of good governance and progress of the state. Anything less may affect the image and fortunes of the Party in the coming Guber election.
“Yes, we have had issues in the past between party and government, but we haven’t allowed them to be subject to newspaper editorials.
“The PDP is a strong brand in Edo State – a brand that has been nurtured over the years by the commitment of leaders and dedicated members of the party. This brand is now under serious threat by the current raging battle between the Governor and deputy governor.
“I therefore seize this opportunity to call on both parties to ‘cease fire’ and resolve their differences amicably. God bless PDP. God bless Edo State.”