Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, declared on Monday that there was no intention of impeaching Philip Shaibu, who serves as his deputy.
The governor did point out, however, that Shaibu’s action in seeking a court order to halt his alleged impeachment was preventive in nature because it came before his allegedly intended defection to the All Progressives Congress.
When the leaders of Edo North visited Benin City, the governor briefed the media there. He claimed that the deputy governor had been actively negotiating his entry into the APC with senior figures at the state and national levels, and that he was about to finalise his defection.
Let me state for the record that I am not aware of any plot or scheme to impeach Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor, Obaseki said. Additionally, I looked, and there was no such plan.
“So, the court action that was taken is shocking and disappointing to me. I’m attempting to think back on a decision made by a deputy governor to whom I gave considerable latitude. It is shocking that he would act in this way.
Shaibu never brought up his desire to become governor, according to Obaseki.
Read Also: Jakande formed Banana Island, did not reserve himself plot of land
I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and finish all our projects we started when we last discussed my successor following the House of Assembly election. The people’s support for my successor won’t come until we handle this properly.
“I think that this man is trying to get a court order so he can keep his ticket and go to another party. For our party, I believe it is unfair. This kind of crisis is not what we need. I’ve been getting calls from all over the world, and it’s kind of sad that an administration member would do this to the administration for his own personal gain.
Obaseki stated that while he wasn’t angry, “I should naturally be disappointed.”
The alleged impeachment attempt against Shaibu, however, went unmentioned at the state Assembly on Monday.
The lawmakers recessed the plenary until the following Monday, August 14.
However, a group from Edo North, led by Kabiru Adjoto, a former speaker of the House of Assembly, spoke to journalists on Monday and accused Shaibu of humiliating the residents of the region.
Adjoto claimed that the group was compelled to comment on the state’s recent political events in order to express their shock at the situation.
“We have watched in complete disbelief the self-inflicted rift between our governor, Godwin Obaseki, and our son, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State,” he said. The Afemai people are a very tenacious, patriotic, and devoted race.
We recall that our two distinguished sons, Reverend Peter Obadan and Mike Oghiadomhe, both former deputy governors, worked cooperatively with their superiors and exhibited the loyalty for which the Afemai race is renowned.
“We are shocked and embarrassed by the way Deputy Governor Shaibu has been trying to run the state by any means.
“Mr Godwin Obaseki has shown more generosity than any other governor in Nigeria by burdening our son, the Deputy Governor, with the highest number of duties, including sports, internal revenue, boundary committee, immunisation, to name a few, earning him the moniker ‘the busiest Deputy Governor in Nigeria’.
“Not only is the legal action speculative, but it is also completely unfounded and extremely embarrassing. We are coming out today to express our regret to the state’s governor as well as to distance the Afemai people from this misguided action.
The deputy governor’s chief press secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, declined to comment when he was contacted for comment because he was out on medical leave.
