Edo deputy governor drags Obaseki to court over impeachment threat

Mr Philip Shaibu, Edo State deputy governor has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to avoid his imminent impeachment and removal from office, amid brinkmanship.

PHOTO CAPTION L-R: MR PHILIP SHAIBU, MR GODWIN OBASEKI HAVING A HANDSHAKE AT A FUNCTION IN EDO GOVERNMENT HOUSE, BENIN CITY.

This comes months after Mr Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects, denied any rift between the Governor and his Deputy on a Satellite television.

The Applicant (Shaibu) in a motion of notice brought before the sought an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the Defendants or their agents from harassing him.

The Inspector-General of Police, Department of the State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State, were listed as Defendants in the suit.

Shaibu is also praying the Court to stop the Defendants from intimidatng embarrassing or preventing him from carrying out his functions in office as deputy Governor of Edo State including attending State Executive Council (SEC) meetings and other functions, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

TheNewspad recalls that Shaibu could not attend the inauguration of 8th session of Edo State House of Assembly by Governor Obaseki, which coincided with the National Assembly inauguration.

The rug was pulled off Shaibu’s feet when Governor Obaseki surreptitiously took over collection of Local Government revenues from him in June 2023.

Shaibu was also accused of sacrificing the swearing-in of 15 Commissioners that were screened by the 6th State house of Assembly on Tuesday June 13th 2013 for the 9th National Assembly inauguration with Senator Oshiomhole in Abuja.

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The State deputy Governor whose travails reached a crescendo after the names of his Commissioner-nominees from Edo North Senatorial District he recommended for appointment into the State Executive Council, was confined to the waste bin, described his visit to the National Assembly as a “memorable one”.

Shaibu in a series of posts he shared on Facebook said, “I arrived at the venue of the reception for the Edo State federal lawmakers in Abuja feeling excited and optimistic about the opportunity to meet with the new lawmakers, myself being a former federal lawmaker.

FILE/PHOTO: MR PHILIP SHAIBU FLANKED BY A SENATOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC HAVING A HANDSHAKE WITH SENATOR ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CREDIT FACEBOOK.

“As the deputy Governor of Edo State I knew that this was an opportunity to strengthen bonds and build networks that could benefit our State.

“As I walked into the venue I was greeted by the sight of several individuals with many chanting “welcome home, welcome home”.

“Of course, I didn’t need anyone to tell me that i was home because being in the midst of Edo indigenes is home already for me, whether they are PDP APC, Labour party or others.

“I had an exciting conversation with the lawmakers from the APC and I am pleased to note that I was warmly welcomed and congratulated on the progress we have been making in Edo state.

“The Ceremony afforded me the opportunity of sharing my experiences and insights about the dynamics in Edo State particularly regarding governance development projects and socio-economic issues.

“I feel proud and even more inspired by the accomplishments of my party in the state, I took note of the speeches delivered by notable figures and individuals at the reception, especially their unwavering commitment to promoting the interests of Edo people and Edo State.

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“I left the event knowing that I had made valuable connections and received a wealth of knowledge that would be relevant in managing Edo State as I felt re-energized and ready to continue working towards a brighter future for our state and the Country.

“I really had a good time”, he said.

Admirably, the deputy Governor who is currently nursing an ambition to contest Edo State governorship election in 2024, had been barred from representing the Governor in any public function, according to governorship sources.

A former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Mr Adaze Andrew Emwanta who recently resigned his membership from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the State, had given insight into the feud between the State Governor and his Deputy.

Emwanta, who spoke when he featured on African Independent Television, AIT’s ‘Democracy Today’ magazine programme tagged, ‘Edo 2024 Governorship’, criticized the Governor for allegedly rejecting the list of Commissioner-nominees from Shaibu.

Emwanta who hails from Egor Local government Area of the State, announced his resignation from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP also failed to make the list of 15-man Commissioners that were inaugurated on June 13, 2023.

He also alleged that the Governor whose second tenure in office will end on November 12, 2024, rejected the choice of a nominee in Egor Local government, and accused him of playing the role of a godfather, which the Governor allegedly vilified his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole for having failed to secure All Progressives (APC) ticket for Edo State 2020 Governorship election ticket, which the incumbent Governor got and contested and won on the platform of PDP.

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Emwanta also blamed external influence into the activities of his party by a highly placed politician in the State for his resignation, predicted that the ruling PDP in the State, will lose the 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

“We are talking about joint ticket. The Governor and the deputy Governor were elected by Edo people. Can you separate that ticket? So, was it supposed to be the other way? Why is he antagonizing the deputy Governor? I am not from his (Shaibu’s) Senatorial district though.

“If the deputy governor decided to attend Oshiomhole’s inauguration because his nominees for Commissioners were not part of those appointed into cabinet are Etsako people not part of Edo State? Why were they excluded? Why was Egor excluded from the list?”, Emwanta queried.

TheNewspad reports that more upset in the State house of Assembly, is expected in the coming day.

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