Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has alleged that he is being intimidated for declaring his ambition to succeed his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Shaibu, who has not been endorsed by Obaseki as his successor, complained that the allocation to his office has been withheld in the last five months, but that as the candidate to be, he would not be distracted.

Dismissing insinuations of a rift with his boss, he said he was only being threatened for declaring his bid.

“I’m sure of getting support from Edo South, Central and my own senatorial district, which is Edo North.” He told TVC.

“This because I’m completely home boy and detribalised. I have support base from across the three senatorial districts because I am a grassroots person and I relate with people seamlessly.

“I use the word that I am a street boy as I’m always with the people. So, I’m confident and sure of winning the race.

“With how they have been going after me, I have therefore, seen that I am the candidate to beat. This is why they are blocking me from declaring.

“How come I am the only one that is being asked not to contest? I am the only one that my office was relocated because I wanted to declare my intention.

“I am the only one that, close to five months now, no allocation to my office just because I declared.

“When I said I was pressed, but not distressed, I understand the kind of intimidation and oppression I have gone through.

“Notwithstanding, the truth is that all these point to the fact that I am the candidate to beat and I will not want to reveal my plans.

“I have my strategies and all I’ve done is that I refused to be distracted. I can bet you that even the Governor will support me when the time comes.”

Shaibu said he would defeat anybody anointed by Obaseki.

“Definitely, I’ll defeat the so-called candidate of the governor, not because I have the power, but because Edo people want their own and I am their own. Edo people do not want importation; they want their own.

“The problem I have with the governor is that he has allowed certain individuals that have interest in governance to come between us. He is managing in his own style and the way he feels he can manage it. I am also managing it the way I feel I can manage it.

“They are beating me and I am crying and I am buying handkerchiefs to clear the tears.

“People say we are fighting, but I’m not fighting. I’m being beaten.

“They’re doing everything to stop me, but they can’t. The truth is that Edo people have made up their mind.

“Edo people hate intimidation. Ah, the kind of intimidation and harassment I have received within this period is only God that has actually seen me through. Irrespective of the intimidation, I have resolved not to fight.

“If PDP wants to win the race, the party needs a unifier, who I am.”

After the peace meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Friday, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly will meet today (Tuesday), to discuss the polity in the state.

A source in the Assembly said one of the major issues on the Assembly agenda for today’s plenary was the consideration of whether or not to declare the state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the acting governor following the long absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The source said, “The House plans to sit tomorrow (Tuesday) and Aiyedatiwa may be declared acting governor during the sitting. This is part of the outcome of the meeting with President Tinubu.”

When contacted on the matter, the Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, said he was at a meeting.

“I will let you know whether the meeting will be held tomorrow because we are at a meeting now; after the meeting, I will let you know,” the Speaker stated.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no information from the Speaker.

The PUNCH reports that President Tinubu last Friday met with the leadership of the Assembly and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo state in Abuja in a bid to resolve the long-drawn political crisis in the state.

The Assembly had, rising from the meeting with Tinubu, said it had dropped the move to impeach the deputy over alleged gross misconduct.

Also, Aiyedatiwa said he would push behind him the events of the past and carry all the stakeholders along.

The crisis between Akeredolu and his deputy began after the governor returned to the country from his long medical vacation in Germany.

The move by the Assembly to impeach the deputy governor had divided the lawmakers.

All parties in the Friday meeting were said to have resolved that the status quo should remain which means Akeredolu should remain the governor, Aiyedatiwa remains the deputy governor and that there should be no impeachment.

Ondo Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa has signed an undertaking as President Tinubu blocked moves to implement Akeredolu’s removal from office.

JomogNews Nigeria had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu stepped in to resolve the prolonged political dispute in Ondo State.

This Nigeria news platform understands that during a weekend meeting, he instructed that the existing leadership structure should remain unchanged.

Following President Tinubu’s decision, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu will continue in his role, and Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will also retain his office, despite previous opposition from Akeredolu’s supporters.

The directive states that Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa’s retention is conditional upon his commitment to maintaining peace in the state.

He is expected to sign a pledge of good behaviour, and the President has reportedly appointed three individuals to oversee his actions and report back.

The resolution followed a lengthy, private meeting held by President Tinubu with the involved parties at Aso Rock Villa, lasting over six hours.

Sources who spoke with Vanguard revealed that the President’s directive was to keep the current state of affairs as it is.

One of the sources said, “The President frowned at the move to declare Aiyedatiwa as acting governor and warned that such must never happen in the state.

“President Tinubu directed that the deputy governor should go and resume work as deputy governor and not as acting governor.

“He also directed that the State Executive Council should remain intact; ditto for the party exco, contrary to threats.

“The President went further to ask Aiyedatiwa to do a letter of undertaking and maintain peace in the state.

“Mr. President also appointed the SSG, Princess Oladunni, Party Chairman, Adetimehin and the Speaker of the House, Oladiji to monitor and report the deputy governor if he deviated from the resolution reached at the meeting.”