Political tensions between Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and Governor Godwin Obaseki surfaced at the House of Assembly last Friday, sparking heated debate over an alleged “unfair appropriation” in the 2024 budget.
The disputed budget allocates N300 million to the Deputy Governor’s office, compared to N19 billion for the Governor’s office, N13 billion for the Speaker, N18 billion for the Secretary to the State Government’s office, and N969 million for the Head of Service.
According to sources, the hurried signing of the budget into law on December 15th evening is viewed by some Shaibu loyalists as another attempt to diminish the Deputy Governor’s influence ahead of February’s party primaries.
Before the controversial budget passed, reports indicated intense disagreement among lawmakers, with some describing the Deputy Governor’s allocation as “embarrassing.”
Sources describe the executive session as a tense environment filled with shouting matches and near-fistfights as lawmakers grappled with the perceived discrepancies.
The Speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, is accused of disregarding colleagues’ pleas for fairness and transparency during the plenary session.
The Governor’s presented budget reveals a N300 million combined allocation for the Deputy Governor’s office, significantly lower than the N18 billion and N19 billion allocated to the Secretary to the State Government and the Governor’s office, respectively. The Speaker also emerges as a major beneficiary, securing N13 billion.
Before the hasty legal ratification, lawmakers raised strong objections to the Deputy Governor’s allocation, viewing it as a politically motivated attempt to hinder his gubernatorial aspirations.
One source stated, “This feels like another executive attempt to punish Shaibu financially and frustrate his ambitions. Governor Obaseki seems to forget that while Shaibu is an individual, the Deputy Governor’s office remains an institution.”
Furthermore, insiders claim the controversial budget has fractured the previously united Assembly due to the Governor’s alleged influence. One source commented, “He may think he’s gained an advantage now, but it could ultimately backfire.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest clandestine meetings between disgruntled PDP lawmakers and their APC counterparts regarding potential joint action.