The National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South South, Chief Dan Orbih has expressed concern over the festering feud between Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, warning that the fierce bitchy ding-dong between the State actors, may affect the fortunes of the party in 2024 Edo governorship election.
Orbih’s advice that is contained in a Press statement, comes on the heels of the hostilities that followed the alleged denial of the deputy Governor access to his office in Government House in Benin City, the State Capital on Monday September 18th 2023.
This was after Shaibu withdrew the case he instituted against the Governor Godwin Obaseki at the federal High Capital Territory (FCT), which had restrained Obaseki or his agents, including the State House of Assembly, DSS, Police from removing him from office.
Commenting on the development, the PDP leader, however, urged both parties to stop further hostilities and resolve their differences quietly in the interest of good governance and progress of the State and called on both parties to ‘cease fire’ and resolve their differences amicably”.
While urging both parties to exercise restraint in what to say or do in the course of this ongoing needless and endless crisis, Orbih, lamented that “official letters, which should be confidential, are now dominating the social media space”.
He said, “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.
“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”, Orbih said.
Recall that Orbih lost his voice and grip on Edo PDP after all his nominees who shares in the sentiments of ‘legacy PDP members’ for 24 State house of Assembly and National Assembly seats in the 2023 general elections failed to secure legal victory against the Governor’s nominees, which were affirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the positions.
Besides, the division in the ruling party in the State, cost the ruling party majority of the National Assembly seats and the setback at the presidential elections in the State except the State house of Assembly seats in the State, where PDP had a landslide victory.
TheNewspad reports that Shaibu’s travail reached a crescendo when he dragged Governor Obaseki to Court to stop alleged purported impeachment plot against him weeks after attending the inauguration of his political godfather, Senator Adams Oshiomhole in Abuja.
The 10th National Assembly inauguration event, was held simultaneously with the inauguration of the current Edo State house of Assembly by the Governor who accused his deputy of betraying him, after berating him of planning to defect from PDP to the All Progressives Congress to enable him contest the 2024 gubernatorial election.
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