In
a press statement on Monday, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State clarified
that
there were no intentions to impeach his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
Nonetheless, the governor acknowledged that Shaibu’s recent move to seek a
court order preventing his purported impeachment was a preemptive measure,
hinting at Shaibu’s rumored plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
Speaking
to reporters in Benin City during a visit by Edo North leaders, Governor
Obaseki alleged that Deputy Governor Shaibu had been engaging with influential
figures at both the national and state levels of the APC. He implied that
Shaibu was actively negotiating his entry into the APC and was close to
finalizing the switch.
Governor
Obaseki emphasized, “Let me be clear that I am not aware of any plot or
scheme to impeach Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have personally
checked and found no such plan in motion.” He expressed his astonishment
and disappointment at Shaibu’s decision to take legal action, considering that
he had provided Shaibu with significant freedom in his role as deputy governor.
Obaseki commented, “For him to take this kind of action is shocking.”
Furthermore,
Obaseki revealed that Shaibu had never discussed his own gubernatorial
aspirations with him. He recalled their last conversation on the subject, which
centered on patience and focusing on completing ongoing projects before
considering any succession plans. Obaseki saw Shaibu’s legal action as a
preemptive maneuver to secure his position and switch parties, deeming it
unfair to the party and the administration they were part of.
Although
the governor admitted to feeling more disappointed than angry, he expressed his
sadness over Shaibu’s actions. Meanwhile, during a session at the state
Assembly on Monday, no mention was made of the alleged impeachment plans
against Shaibu.
However,
a group from Edo North, led by former Speaker of the House of Assembly Kabiru
Adjoto, addressed journalists on the same day, accusing Shaibu of causing
embarrassment to the region. Adjoto’s group voiced their concerns about the
political turmoil and stated that they could not remain silent in the face of
these developments.
Adjoto
noted, “We have watched with disbelief the self-constructed conflict
between Governor Godwin Obaseki and our son, Deputy Governor Philip
Shaibu.” He highlighted the loyalty and cooperation displayed by former
deputy governors from Afemai, a region known for hard work and patriotism. The
group expressed their surprise and disappointment at Shaibu’s actions,
referring to them as an attempt to seize power by any means necessary.
The
group also praised Governor Obaseki’s magnanimity and recognized the multiple
responsibilities that he had assigned to Shaibu. They referred to Shaibu as
“the busiest Deputy Governor in Nigeria” due to his involvement in
various crucial areas.
In
response to these developments, the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy
governor, Musa Ebomhiana, mentioned that he was on medical leave and unable to
provide comments on the matter.
