Orbih also accused Obaseki of orchestrating the disunity in the party by betraying the agreement reached as regards the sharing of elective positions in the 2023 polls.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has denied giving his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, $300,000 to offer as bribe to some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the build-up to the party’s primary ahead of Edo State governorship election in 2020.
Shaibu said in a statement on Friday that Orbih’s claim was a lie, adding that he could not have sent his boss on an errand.
The statement reads: “Nothing can be farther from the truth. I want to state without equivocation that no such transaction ever occurred. It even betrays reasons that I, as Deputy Governor, would have to send the governor, my boss, on an errand to hand money to a party leader. It is an aberration of the highest proportion that deserves no contemplation.
“I, therefore, condemn the rumour in its entirety and urge that the insinuations be disregarded, as it has no basis in facts.”
Orbih had made the allegation during the yuletide at his country home in Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Council while playing host to some party members. He also accused Obaseki of orchestrating the disunity in the party by betraying the agreement reached as regards the sharing of elective positions in the 2023 polls.
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He said he flew to Benin City to meet Obaseki and Shaibu after a peace parley in Abuja, which was brokered by the quartet of Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
Orbih said that after the Abuja agreement he looked Obaseki in the face in the presence of some PDP governors, and challenged him over allegations that he gave him and other top party members money to ensure that the House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, stepped down for him.
Orbih alleged that Shaibu had confided in him that he gave $300,000 to the governor to give to him (Orbih) and a senatorial candidate for Edo South, being his contribution to the purchase of the PDP governorship ticket for the 2020 election.
He added: “I challenged him at the meeting to tell us whether he gave one kobo to me and the Edo South senatorial candidate or not. He said that he didn’t give us money and he didn’t tell anybody to give us money.
“I then turned to the deputy governor and said, ‘Shuaibu, you are sitting here. Did you not tell us that you gave $300,000 to Obaseki to add to the money for the ticket of PDP?’ Shaibu admitted that he said so, right in the presence of Obaseki. The other governors looked at themselves and shook their heads.”
Orbih said at the meeting, which was chaired by Ortom, that it was agreed it was unfair to members of his Legacy Group, that Obaseki should produce 13 candidates for the Edo House of Assembly race, while his supporters were given 11 slots.
