Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shaibu has said he is not in competition with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
This followed the governor’s decision to pay the hospital bills of the attacked players and officials of Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side, Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure.
Armed Robbers had attacked a bus conveying Sunshine Stars along the Ore-Benin Expressway while en route to Benin for a scheduled NPFL Match against Bendel Insurance.
A ball boy was shot, while the players and other officials were highly traumatised and disoriented after the attack.
Shaibu had visited the players and promised to foot their hospital bills. But Obaseki also pledged that the state government would foot the hospital bills of the injured players and officials.
Reacting to Obaseki’s gesture, Shaibu said he would no longer foot the bills of the players and officials.
A statement by Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, on Sunday evening, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that His Excellency, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has directed that the medical bill of the injured Ball Boy and Kit Manager of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure be paid by Edo State government.
“Consequently, the state’s Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, has withdrawn his earlier promise to pay the medical bill.
“The office of Governor and Deputy Governor are one. We are not in any way in competition.”
Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads despite their alleged reconciliation.
Amid the face-off, Shaibu declared interest to run for governor of the state but Obaseki said members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will determine his fate.
Edo: ‘I’m not in competition with you’ – Shaibu tells Obaseki