Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has refuted the allegation of $300,000 bribe through Governor Godwin Obaseki by the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih.
Orbih had recently alleged in what the public saw as a big scandal, that Shaibu gave the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the sum of $300,000 to hand over to him (Orbih) as part of some sort of political settlement regarding the Edo State chapter of the PDP governorship ticket.
In a statement on Friday, Shaibu described the allegation as “absolutely false,” urging that the insinuations be disregarded.
His words: “It has come to my attention that the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih, has made an absolutely false allegation purporting that I had given the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the sum of $300,000 to hand over to Orbih as part of some sort of political settlement regarding the Edo State chapter of the PDP.
“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 State 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.”
Shaibu added, “I, therefore, condemn the rumour in its entirety and urge that the insinuations be disregarded as it has no basis in facts.”
Orbih had been reported by the Sun to have made the $300,000 revelation while speaking during his annual Edo PDP Christmas/New Year Party at his Country Home in Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
He was quoted as saying: “Shaibu told me that Governor Obaseki demanded $300,000 from him to make up funds to settle Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama for the governorship ticket which he gave his boss, Governor Obaseki, only to discover that no Penny was given to Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama neither did he demand a dime for stepping down”.
“Now the truth is revealed for Edo people to be the judge ahead of the 2023 general elections”, Chief Orbih added.
The PDP South-South National Vice Chairman stated that he pointedly asked Governor Obaseki to confirm if he gave money to anybody to allow him to join the party or contest for governorship and he said no.
