I’m disappointed Shaibu betrayed me, says Oshiomhole

Osagie Otabor, Benin

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said he would continue to stand on the path of peace in the crisis that has engulfed the party in Edo State.

Comrade Oshiomhole who said he was disappointed that his estranged political son and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu and some other persons from his local government could betray him despite doing much to help them grow politically.

Last week, suspension gale rocked the Edo APC as Oshiomhole, Shaibu, Governor Godwin Obaseki and others were suspended by the two factions in the party.

Oshiomhole who spoke when he addressed some party supporters who paid him a solidarity visit at his Iyamho residence urged the people to continue to embrace peace and not allow themselves to be used for the wrong reasons because of money.

According to him, “It is about the truth, we have a president that believes in the truth, that believes in fairness, that believes in justice that believes that government should fight for the poor.

“There is nothing I have done in life that I didn’t have to fight but as you can see by the special grace of God there is no fight that I was forced into that I have not prevailed because I do not go out of my way to look for trouble. I actually do my best to make peace but if it fails, God will give the enablement to stand on our feet and defend the truth.

“The only thing I will say today to anyone who is here who is an agent of my son. When I talk of my son, I am talking of Philip Shiabu who now thinks that his own political future requires that he attacks me and import thugs to disgrace me in my village.

“The Hausas have a saying that when people are possessed and they do things like that – just say God take control. Supposing I was dead after 2016 and somebody tells me that my son Philip will organise people to attack my house or to attack my village to disrupt the convocation maybe my body will be turning in heaven and I will not believe.

“But the fact is that I am alive to see someone who did not win his own booth because his own people in his own village and community of Jattu did not want him because they apparently know him better than me. I stood for him not on false stand and he became deputy governor. If all that transpired now is to use that power to humiliate me but God forbid… as you can see, who can fight the battle; it is only God so I leave the burden of guilt to them.

“I will not repay evil with evil. I will stand on the path of peace. I will stand on the path of unity. I will stand on the path of justice because I know that God in heaven will never allow the evil doers prevail. I am very happy that God has given me good health and that I can see some people who fought me in 2007 and God gave me victory and from victory I made them commissioners.

” I gave them jobs. I assisted them whenever they were in need that I am alive to see them because of a small pot of pepper soup singing signatures to say Oshiomhole should not be.

“Some of them called me privately and said they were given contracts some about N10 million and they say if I don’t sign they won’t pay my money and I say okay may the N10m make you a millionaire. Some say I have been given a job and they say if I don’t abuse you they will sack me and I asked is it not God that protects? I don’t want to be remembered for using my office to harass anybody. I have left government for three years now but you people are here now on your own. You are not millionaires in your pockets; you are billionaires in your minds.”

Oshiomhole urged them to continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari who he said stands for truth and justice.

– Nation