Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has launched a counter-attack at his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike following the latter’s criticism of Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu had recently protested against the exclusion of his and Obaseki’s supporters from the affairs of the party since they (Obaseki and Shaibu) joined the PDP last year to seek a second term after being denied by the All Progressives Congress under former chairman Adams Oshiomhole.
Wike had said about Shaibu, “This is the same deputy governor that was kneeling down to beg for us to give them umbrella, today you have the effrontery to threaten PDP. Such a shame.”
However, Obaseki, in a statement on Monday, accused Wike of being a bully and working with PDP chieftain Dan Orbih to destabilise Edo State chapter of the party.
“It clearly amounts to the delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him,” he said.
Commenting on Wike’s rumoured interest in the presidency, Obaseki said, “No one is against his desire to run for president, however, his ambition should not be embarked on in such a way that it would cause disruption at different levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as different chapters of the party across the country.”
“While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding. Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition,” he added.
