Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has given his account of how former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole joined politics claiming it was his making.
Shaibu failed in his bid to represent Etsako West Constituency in the State House of Assembly under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in 2003 but succeeded in 2007 when he contested on the platform of Action Congress, AC, and afterwards won election into the House of Representatives.
Oshiomhole’s first shot at election was in 2007.
The former Labour leader and the deputy governor were political allies until the crisis between Oshiomhole and Shaibu’s principal, Gov. Godwin Obaseki tore them apart.
In an interview the deputy governor granted News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, he said the 63-year-old came into politics under his tutelage, saying, “I introduced Comrade Oshiomhole to politics. I organised his first ever political meeting that brought him in.
“I was in politics before he, I won my election in 2003, without going to court.
“But he came through the court, and I was already a member of the Edo House of Assembly 18 months before he became a governor.”
Shaibu said he would deliver Edo North Senatorial District where both hail from to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the September 19 governorship election claiming Oshiomhole cannot match his political clout in the area.
“Edo North Senatorial District will be the easiest to win, because the political structure of the place is in our hands,” he said.
