By Ayo Yusuf
Concerned about how the ongoing battle between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his deputy, Hon. Philip Shuaibu, will affect the fortunes of the party in the coming gubernatorial election in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party has urged the two gladiators to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.
The party noted that the PDP has nurtured itself into a strong brand in the state over the years and the serial row between the governor and his deputy can only serve to demarket the party and give opportunity for rival political parties to take over the state.
The PDP National Vice Chairman (South) and former chairman of the party in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, made these observations in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday night titled, ‘Do not de-market PDP in Edo State.’
He expressed surprise that official letters of the state government, which should be confidential, were now dominating the social media space.
Relations between Governor Obaseki and his deputy worsened when Hon. Shuaibu filed a case with the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop his planned impeachment by Governor Obaseki.
Although he later withdrew the case following the intervention of stakeholders, the damage appeared to be irreparable as the governor relocated the office of his Deputy who was barred from entering his office in the Government House on Monday.
An official letter of his relocation dated September 15, 2023, and received by a Permanent Secretary in the office of the deputy governor, surfaced on social media.
Hon Shuaibu had earlier claimed he had received no such letters asking him to move although the letter had clearly stated that his office had been relocated to some place outside the Government House.
Chief Orbih urged Governor Obaseki and his Deputy to bury the hatchet and allow peace to reign for the sake of the governorship election scheduled for next year.
He said, “I have observed with trepidation, the frosty relations between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shuaibu 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 of 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.”
