With the impeachment discover served on the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu by the state Home of Meeting, there are indications that his removing is imminent, Juliet Akoje writes
When reviews emerged that the Edo State Home of Meeting had commenced impeachment proceedings towards the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, many analysts knew that it was time for him to go after a long-drawn battle along with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Majority Chief, Charity Aiguobarueghian (PDP Ovia North-East 1), who introduced the impeachment discover throughout plenary, stated a petition dated March 5 and contained two breaches and infractions dedicated by Shaibu, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members of the state’s legislature. He additional acknowledged that the petition was based mostly on two grounds: Perjury and the revelation of presidency secrets and techniques.
Aiguobarueghian famous that the variety of members who signed the petition was greater than two-thirds required by the structure.
Speaker of the Home, Blessing Agbebaku (PDP-Owan-West), who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the Clerk of the Home, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment discover on the deputy governor. He additionally gave the deputy governor seven days to reply to the discover of impeachment.
Shaibu was a robust political ally of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Within the build-up to the 2020 governorship election within the state, each males had fashioned what many perceived as an unbreakable alliance. Collectively, they confronted the onslaught of the then Nationwide Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to emerge victorious as governor and deputy governor, respectively.
Indicators of friction nevertheless surfaced when Shaibu confirmed curiosity in succeeding his boss within the upcoming governorship election. Obaseki felt Shaibu’s true intention was to undermine his authority.
It was alleged that Shaibu didn’t formally inform his boss of his intention earlier than embarking on consultations over his ambition.
The governor was additionally stated to have appealed to his associates who have been within the governorship race to focus extra on making certain that the administration completed nicely and robust, a choice Shaibu ignored.
Because the feud started, the governor has stripped his deputy of state obligations he had as soon as managed equivalent to income supervision and sports activities administration within the state.
The feud even led to the deputy governor being kicked out of his workplace from the Authorities Home, to a unique location at No. 7 Dennis Osadebe Avenue, previously meant for the state Public Procurement Workplace.
Firstly of the yr, the disaster between the 2 shifted to the 2024 price range of the state with the workplace of the deputy governor receiving a paltry N300 million as in comparison with billions obtained up to now. This was seen as an try and strangulate him.
In his latest tv interview, Shaibu attributed his fallout with Obaseki to his ambition to succeed him.
The deputy governor stated Obaseki just isn’t joyful that he’s not supporting his most popular candidate. He added that he had made a number of efforts to fix the connection with the governor to no avail.
“He has not been joyful that I’m not supporting his candidate. It’s my proper to contest in an election and I’m exercising that proper. And he has carried out a variety of damaging issues. It doesn’t actually matter, I see it as politics.
“I’ve made up my thoughts to all the time respect the workplace of the governor, and I’ll proceed to respect the workplace of the governor until the top, whether or not as deputy or some other factor. So the connection just isn’t cordial, I can inform you that. It’s not from my very own finish, it’s from his personal finish as a result of I’ve made makes an attempt to bridge the hole, however he doesn’t permit it,” Shaibu stated.
“I’ve referred to as him and he doesn’t decide up, even in public capabilities. I greet him, however he doesn’t reply me, as a result of I’ve made up my thoughts that I need to train my proper. We’ve by no means had any variations, the one distinction we’ve got is ‘why are you contesting?’”
Nonetheless, Obaseki in his response, accused him of disloyalty and planning to overthrow him due to his desperation to turn into the following governor of the state.
In response to him, Shaibu had gone to Abuja and was boasting about his connections there, stating that he had individuals within the Nationwide Meeting who have been supportive of him. Shaibu allegedly indicated that if he couldn’t safe the ticket within the PDP, he knew what to do, implying that he had a sinister plan. The governor famous that he stayed quiet throughout this time, assuming they have been on the identical web page. Nonetheless, he admitted that what struck him was when he inaugurated the Home of Meeting they usually have been about to elect officers.
“He was in Abuja; he got here again that day. I’m the chief safety officer of this state. I get any info I would like. However I’ve that duty to maintain quiet and use the data correctly.
“My deputy referred to as the chief in APC, telling him that in the course of the elections the following day, significantly the election of the Speaker of the Home of Meeting that he has 5 members who’re loyal to him and that he would love the seven members of APC to work along with his 5 members of PDP to supply the following speaker.
“So far as I’m involved, that was not working in our widespread curiosity. Why would the deputy governor search to have one other speakership candidate outdoors what the governor needs? Are we working collectively? That was after I knew we had an issue. That the deputy governor has turn into so determined to take over,” Obaseki defined.
Final Saturday, the deputy governor stated he had been receiving impeachment threats over his involvement within the governorship major election of the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP). He famous that he wouldn’t be deterred, insisting that contesting the Edo governorship election is his constitutional proper.
On February 22, Shaibu was declared winner of a factional governorship major election that was reportedly held at his residence in Benin Metropolis, the state capital, whereas Asue Ighodalo was additionally introduced winner of one other PDP major train which occurred on the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.
Ighodalo, the popular candidate of Obaseki is the flagbearer recognised by the PDP nationwide management.
Nonetheless, the deputy governor has constantly faulted the first that produced Ighodalo, saying that it was organised by the state celebration govt as an alternative of the nationwide govt of the celebration. He claimed that members of the state govt and the governor are supporters of Ighodalo and subsequently weren’t going to conduct an unbiased election.
He maintained that he’s the genuine candidate of the PDP, and warned that failure by the celebration to simply accept him as its candidate within the state governorship election will spell doom for the celebration within the state.
“PDP has a date with historical past; delegates have spoken that they need Shaibu and I can guess you that the opposite eight aspirants will help Shaibu if the celebration backs him. If the celebration decides to affix us in court docket to argue for Ighodalo then PDP profitable Edo State for PDP shall be shaky as a result of Asue won’t be accepted by the individuals,” Shaibu stated.
From the collection of interviews by Shaibu these days, typically disparaging Obaseki, many had concluded that he wouldn’t survive the political gang-up that’s forward, particularly for the reason that governor was now decided to chop him to dimension and clip his political wings.
Many analysts have instructed that essentially the most prudent method out for him could be to promptly submit his resignation letter, fairly than topic himself to the humiliation of impeachment.
