Drama in Edo as Shaibu, Reinstated Deputy Governor, Inspects Projects in Absence of Governor Obaseki; Govt Appeals to IGP to Save State from Anarchy

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

With Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, away on a one-month leave days after the September 21 governorship election in the state lost by his ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday took charge of the affairs of the state, inspecting some on-going projects like the multi-billion-Naira five-star Radisson Blu Hotel, the Museum Of West African Arts (MOWAA), reconstruction of the road at Okada Avenue, and parts of Central Road, all in Benin City.

Shaibu, who was impeached Monday April 8, 2024, by the state House of Assembly over allegation of gross misconduct but was reinstated July 17 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, said he would be going round in the next two weeks, starting with Edo South, after that Central, and then North, “to check what we have done”.

Ignoring a statement by the state government on Sunday warning him against always acting in breach of extant laws to disrupt the process of governance, and to subject himself to the law, Shaibu, in an interview with journalists, said “we should not respond to people in exile who release press releases because we are here”.

Recall that in the aftermath of Shaibu’s purported impeachment, Governor Obaseki had appointed Marvellous Olabayo Godwins, an engineer, as his replacement. A declarative judgement by Justice Omotosho had reinstated Shaibu, submitting that his removal was illegal. He ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details, and also directed that his salaries and allowances be paid from April when he was sacked.

The state government had however insisted that Omobayo remained the deputy governor because, according to it, the House of Assembly had appealed the judgement and applied for stay of execution.

But clarifying his status after his inspection of projects, Shaibu dared the governor, saying that “Anybody who wants to release a press release should come here and not be in exile and start releasing press statements. We should ignore them. I have since resumed because the issue of reinstatement should be a thing of the past. I don’t think we should be talking about it. Judgement has been made. We should move forward. The issue is if I can work with Obaseki. Can I work with him? I can work with him, but he cannot work with me.

“The office of the Deputy Governor is not an office under Obaseki. It is an office created by the Constitution. Until you understand the difference between the office of the Governor and Office of the Deputy Governor and the Constitutionality of the office, I am the deputy governor, and my role is clearly defined. I will be going round in the next two weeks, starting with Edo South, after that, Central, and then North, to check what we have done. A new sheriff is in town, and we must hand over to him. That’s where we are. I am doing my work as deputy governor of Edo State”.

According to him, “My own duty as deputy governor is to discharge my duties as deputy governor. I have come to inspect what is going on here at the museum. We went round, and to other projects. Administratively, there are issues that have to be sorted out. There are administrative issues at Radisson Blu which have to be sorted out. It is work and work. In the next six weeks, we have to put things in proper perspective so that the next Sheriff in town will know where we are. I am doing my work as deputy governor. I am on ground and not in exile.”

At the MOWAA site, Shaibu observed that “Work is about 80 percent completed. It is fine; but I have my reservation. This is supposed to be a Central Hospital for the people and not to build a museum here.”

At Radisson Hotel, he said the scope of work was okay and that he wanted to be sure that all the major works under the outgoing government were going on fine.

However, a statement by Crusoe Osagie, special adviser on media projects to Governor Obaseki, said “Shaibu, just like any private citizen, can take a tour around the exceptional projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki. We warn, however, that both Philip Shaibu and the security agencies should not carry out actions that violate the laws and the constitution.

“Shaibu should be patient and wait for the Appeal Court to hear his matter; he needs to learn to subject himself to authority of the law. The government enjoins the good people of Edo State to go about their lawful business, rest assured that government will always ensure the protection of lives and property in line with extant laws in the state”.

In a pre-emptive move on Sunday, the state government had raised the alarm over alleged plan by Shaibu to invade the Government House on Monday to enforce his reinstatement. TELL observed Sunday evening that the office of the Deputy Governor along Commercial Avenue was like a ghost town as the place was deserted while the entry gate was shut with a machine gun mounted, and a police truck with three policemen on guard duty, cited.

A staff who volunteered information on what was going on, hinted the magazine that workers were on Friday directed to report for duty on Monday at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Agency (JOOPSA) while the official vehicles in the office, including the press crew bus, were moved to the office of the Head of Service inside the Government House, Osadebey Avenue.

The source said, “You know we are civil servants; we were told to resume in JOOPSA on Thursday and that was where we also resumed on Friday, and we would also do that tomorrow (Monday).”

Sunday’s statement by Osagie, had called on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his plan to enter the government house, contending that it would be a recipe for chaos.

He said, “We want to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho.

“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal, and we appeal to the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the state does not descend to anarchy because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that is one death too many and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such.”

Osagie argued that the government lawyers had written to the IGP and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact that “all actions relating to the enforcement and/or execution of the judgement of Honourable Justice J. K. Omotosho in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 be stayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction Pending Appeal so as not to foist a situation of helplessness on the Court of Appeal and render the Order nugatory in the case that the application is granted.”

He said the appeal raised special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds in respect of which the court ought to grant the application as this would ensure that the plaintiff/respondent (Shaibu) did nothing to cause a breach of the peace or breakdown of law and order in Benin City and Edo State.

However, Shaibu’s chief press secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, had in a swift response on Sunday, dismissed the government’s allegation.

Ebomhiana said, “There is no iota of truth in it please. They should know that the election has been lost and won. This is cheap blackmail cum propaganda.”

Also, reacting to the allegation, Shaibu’s lawyer and a former Commissioner under the current state government, Andrew Emwanta said, “This is balderdash.”