Former Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, has made startling allegations against his former boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, claiming he was deceived out of $300,000 during their time in office.
Shaibu made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Sun Newspaper. He opened up about the financial and political betrayal he allegedly suffered at the hands of Obaseki, shedding light on the deep rift between the two former allies.
Shaibu, who served as deputy governor until his impeachment in 2023, revealed that he contributed $300,000 to support Obaseki’s political ambitions during their time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the governor had requested the funds to lobby party leaders in Port Harcourt ahead of a crucial election, promising to add $700,000 to the amount. However, Shaibu claims he later discovered that the money was never used for its intended purpose.
“I contributed $300,000. He collected $300,000 from me, saying he was going to add $700,000 to go and lobby them in Port Harcourt,” Shaibu disclosed. “But we later found out from the zonal PDP Chairman that he never gave them any money. So, he even duped me.”
The former deputy governor recounted the financial strain he endured to repay the $300,000, which he had borrowed. “It took me about seven months to pay back that money. I was paying in installments,” he said, expressing frustration that the funds were neither used nor returned to him.
Shaibu also called on prominent PDP leaders, including Chief Dan Orbih and Ogbeide-Ihama, to corroborate his claims, stating, “You can ask them. I am calling names now.”
Reflecting on his impeachment, Shaibu described Obaseki’s actions as “an act of wickedness.” He expressed disbelief that after sacrificing so much for their political partnership, he was repaid with betrayal. “Each time I say Obaseki is wicked, people don’t understand. You cannot imagine somebody that went through that for this man, and this man will pay back that way,” he lamented.
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