The showdown in Edo State today between the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu might have been shifted to another day after the hotel Shaibu booked for his declaration cancelled the reservation.
It was gathered that the booking by the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation to use Eterno Hotel for the governorship declaration on Monday morning was cancelled on Sunday on the basis that the venue had earlier been paid for by a pro-Obaseki group for the fourth edition of its meeting the same time.
As of late on Sunday, Shaibu was seeking an alternative venue to make his official declaration.
Theliberationnews learnt that Shaibu had earlier shared a personally signed invite to stakeholders for the declaration at Eterno Hotel, Benin City, a copy of which was sighted by this medium.
While it is not known when Shaibu booked the hall for his event, it was gathered that the pro-Obaseki group had booked the hall about two weeks ago.
However, the Shaibu Campaign has traced the cancellation of the booking to powers that be.
The Punch quoted an associate of the deputy governor as saying:
“We found this very preposterous that we were contacted by the hotel management that a group had paid for the same venue for a programme slated for 7 a.m. same date.
“We know where this is coming from. Whatever their plans to frustrate our declaration will definitely fail. They are jittery over Shaibu’s declaration and popularity.”
This is yet another episode of the ongoing cold war between Shaibu and Governor Obaseki over the deputy governor’s unyielding aspiration to succeed the governor despite the agitation for power shift to Edo Central. Obaseki is believed to be backing a lawyer from the region as his successor.
It was gathered that in the next few days allegations bordering on expenditures in the office of the deputy governor will emerge, meaning that the cancellation Of the declaration by Eterno Hotel could only mean the first of the cold winter for Philip Shaibu.
