Edo 2020: Obaseki, Deputy clash over poor campaign funding

*** No friction in our camp says Gov’s Aide

Amidst media reports of a major clash between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and his deputy, Philip Shaibu over the former’s refusal to release funds for the coming election in the state, the governor’s camp on Saturday dismissed the report as false and mischievous.

Shaibu was said to have engaged in a war of words with his boss, Godwin Obaseki at a leadership meeting Thursday following what they described as failure by the governor to release funds for the election.

It was gathered that trouble started when the governor commenced the meeting and charged everybody to give the election their all but an enraged Shaibu was said to have told the governor that he (Obaseki) is not serious in winning the coming election as he allegedly said the governor has neglected the committees formed two weeks earlier with no funding for their activities.

He went further to accuse the governor of luring him to fight his godfather Adam Oshiomhole and now showing no commitment or seriousness in funding the forthcoming election.

“Mr governor I see you don’t understand what this election is all about. You are not serious about it. Do you think it’s the little boys carrying laptops here that will do it? If you don’t want to fund the election then I have no business being here. I will back out” the deputy governor reportedly said.

In a swift reaction on Saturday, the governor’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie denied the alleged disagreement, insisting that the two leaders still maintained smooth working relationship.

He described the incident as false and that the rumour could only have emanated from the APC.

“The lie that there was a clash between the governor and his deputy should be dismissed in its entirety. Whatever incident they allude to only exists in the imagination of the purveyors.

“There was indeed a meeting with key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ended with everyone in high spirit. There was a spirit of cordiality and everyone shared their ideas and inputs on how to deliver the party in the September 19 governorship election.”

Also, the deputy governor through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Benjamin Atu equally denied the allegation noting that his loyalty to the governor remains sacrosanct.

“My loyalty to Obaseki is sacrosanct and not debatable. No amount of blackmail or propaganda can stop me from serving the interest of Governor Philip Shaibu declared. I will Support Obaseki and make sure he wins the September 19th Governorship election in Edo State”