Ahead of Edo State deputy governor Philip Shaibu’s formal declaration of his governorship ambition on Monday, Eterno Hotels in Benin City cancelled his booking to use the hotel.
The hotel management contacted Shaibu to inform him that the space was no longer available for his use and refunded his money. Eterno was said to have told the Shaibu group that another group, ‘Obaseki finishing well group,’ had paid for the same venue.
Eterno Hotels, located in the Government Reserved Area, Benin, is owned by a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
One of the Edo State Deputy Governor’s loyalists, who asked not to be named, told our correspondent that: “We found it 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. on the same date.
“We know where this is coming from. Whatever their plans to frustrate our declaration, they will definitely fail. They are jittery over Shaibu’s declaration and popularity.”
Chronicle NG reports that Shaibu’s governorship ambition has pitted him against his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is believed to be working to pick someone else to succeed him.
At the height of the crisis, the Deputy Governor dragged Obaseki and the state House of Assembly to court, seeking an order to stop them from impeaching him.
Obaseki, on his part, had openly accused his deputy of being overambitious.
Though his deputy later apologized, and the latter said he had forgiven him, the Edo State Government relocated Edo deputy governor’s office out of the government house.
Last week, Shaibu’s camp said the deputy governor would this week formally declare his intention to run for the 2024 Edo State governorship election.
A ‘Special Invitation’ dated November 23, 2023, which the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation made available to newsmen last week, read: “On behalf of Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation, I invite you to honour me with your esteemed presence as I offer myself to serve as the Chief Servant (Governor) of Edo State.”
The letter stated that the event would take place at the Eterno Hotels on Monday, November 27, at 8 a.m.
