Shaibu: Godfatherism rearing its head — I won’t be intimidated out of Edo guber

Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo, says he will resist any form of intimidation to prevent him from contesting the governorship election in the state.

Shaibu spoke after submitting his governorship nomination form at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said his ambition is to save Edo from “businessmen” who want to take over the state.

“We started the journey of rescuing Edo state in 2006, and we were conscious of what we wanted to achieve,” Shaibu said.

“We said that we needed to take our state back and return it to the people, and we did take the state back and return it to the people. Along the line, something happened, and the state is about to be hijacked again, so we said no.

“This election is another challenge. They want to take the state from Edo people and return it to businessmen, and we are saying no! Because Edo state cannot return to Egypt.

“Edo state will continually move forward, and the only way it can move forward is if power resides with the people. PDP says power to the people, not power to business friends or business colleagues.”

Shaibu alleged that he has been harassed and intimidated because of his ambition.

“I will tell the leadership of PDP that some of us have been harassed. I have received a lot of intimidation, but unfortunately for me, it is like a cross that God has asked me to carry,” he said.

“All my life has been a life of harassment and intimidation, but in all the intimidation, I have always come out successful.

“This PDP primary is also going to be the same because now they are buying people. They have bought all the elders, but they have not been able to buy the youth.

“I am not looking ruffled because I knew the result from the beginning. I know when I will win an election. When I am not intimidated, that means that the election will not be successful.

“The intimidation and harassment show the character of my victory. When you don’t intimidate me, I don’t win an election.”

Shaibu said he already has a blueprint of how he wants to govern the state and what he wants to do for the people if elected.

He added that he has brought “transparency and accountability” to governance in his eight years as deputy governor of Edo.

“I am contesting for governor today, not because Philip Shaibu has inordinate ambition, but because my ambition is to save Edo State from businessmen who now want to take over the state,” he said.

“We have already dealt with the issue of godfatherism, but it is rearing its ugly head again. I am happy that the governor told us that even if he is trying to bring somebody in as a godfather, we should deal with him.

“We are standing on the mandate of the people. My support is organic, and with Philip Shaibu, the PDP will retain its seat in Edo state.”