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•Edo North PDP leaders knock Shaibu over faceoff with Obaseki
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The raging feud between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, took a new dimension, yesterday, with the governor denying knowledge of any plan to impeach his deputy, even as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Edo North pledged support for Obaseki.
The governor, however, claimed that the move by Shaibu to seek a court order to stop his purported impeachment was preemptive ahead of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor, who briefed journalists in Benin City during a visit by Edo North leaders, said his deputy has been actively engaging with senior actors both at the national and state level of the APC, negotiating his way into their party, adding that he was at the verge of finalising moves to defect to the APC.
“Let me put it on record that I am not aware of any plot or any scheme to impeach the Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan. So, the Court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.
“It’s clear what has happened in the last few weeks. It is a preemptive move for him to conclude what he has started. Those of you from Akoko-Edo can recall that when we were discussing the issue of your local government chairman and that of Owan, there was a lot of resistance from you on the candidates he wanted to impose on you. I listened to your entreaties and thought that what you were recommending was fair. How can he be recommending the son of an APC leader in that local government? You resisted and I saw reason and acceded to your request.
“The next day, I saw on social media that he was in Abuja robbing minds with the opposition party. I have heard for months now that he has been in closed consultation with friends from another party because he was not sure that you, the leaders of PDP, will give him the ticket as governor in 2024.
“I must state here that Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambition with me. The last time we spoke of my successor after the House of Assembly election, I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and conclude all our projects we started. It’s only when we do this right that we will have the support of the people for my successor.
“I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move to get a court order, keep his ticket and move to another party. I think it’s unfair for our party. We don’t need this sort of crisis. I have been getting calls all over the world and it’s rather sad that somebody who is part of an administration will do this to the administration because of his personal ambition.
“I am not angry but naturally I should be disappointed. I understand what is going on. I thank you for your solidarity. We should not be distracted but consolidate and unite our party and bring all on board.”
Addressing journalists at the Conference Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin City, PDP leaders from Edo North led by former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, frowned at what they described as Shaibu’s desperation to pull down his boss in his quest to rule the state.
He said Obaseki gave Shaibu wide latitude to operate as deputy, but lamented how he has taken the benevolence for stupidity.
“We are surprised and embarrassed by the behaviour of Shaibu, in his ill-advised mission to govern the state state by all means. It is unheard of in the history of Nigeria where a sitting deputy governor will initiate a court action against his governor without any justification as in the instant case. And also go ahead to engage social media miscreants to disparage his Governor.”
Adjoto described Shaibu’s court action as not only speculative but baseless and highly embarrassing.
Also, former deputy chief of staff to Obaseki, who served in Shaibu’s office, Jimoh Ijegbai, said: “For us in Owan, it is a complete distraction at this time when INEC has not release timetable for election. We have no hand in what Shaibu is doing, we are with Obaseki.”
Ijegbai said no notice has come from the State House of Assembly to confirm the rumoured plan by Obaseki to impeach Shaibu, adding “he is our son, we don’t want him to be impeached.”
When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to Shaibu, Musa Ebomhiana, declined comment on the allegations raised against the Deputy Governor, saying “I’m on medical leave.”
