Governor Obaseki praised the removal of Mr. Shaibu from office, asserting that the state assembly fulfilled its constitutional duty of ensuring checks and balances.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has commended the removal of his former deputy, Philip Shaibu, from office, stating that the state House of Assembly fulfilled its constitutional obligation of providing checks and balances.
“In recent weeks, the Edo State House of Assembly has dutifully exercised its constitutional role of checks and balances in our democracy, culminating in the impeachment of the former deputy governor,” Mr. Obaseki conveyed via his official communication platform.
The dismissal of Mr. Shaibu as deputy governor marked the climax of his protracted political discord with Governor Obaseki.
Responding to Mr. Shaibu’s removal while welcoming his new deputy, Mr. Obaseki expressed surprise at the prospect of working with two deputies before the end of his tenure. However, he emphasized the necessity to maintain governmental continuity. “At no point did I anticipate the need to work with two deputies before the conclusion of my eight-year tenure. However, governance demands continuity, and thus, we have unanimously appointed Omobayo Godwins to assume the role of Edo State Deputy Governor.”
“At the age of 38, Omobayo symbolizes our unwavering belief in the potential of our youth to drive transformative change in our beloved state. He brings vitality and renewed enthusiasm to our commitment to placing young people at the forefront of political and developmental agendas,” he added in his statement.
Mr. Godwins, a former member of the Labour Party who contested and lost the 2023 House of Representatives election for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, was inaugurated as Edo State Deputy Governor following Mr. Shaibu’s removal by the state assembly.
During its plenary session on Monday, the assembly overwhelmingly voted to remove Mr. Shaibu after endorsing the panel report established by the state chief judge to investigate allegations of perjury and disclosure of government secrets leveled against him by lawmakers.
Reacting to his dismissal, Mr. Shaibu accused the lawmakers of betraying the trust of the Edo people and suggested that his removal was due to his gubernatorial aspirations. He vowed to contest his impeachment in court, expressing confidence in the judicial process.
Mr. Shaibu had a protracted political disagreement with Governor Obaseki over his gubernatorial ambitions, which the governor did not support. While Mr. Obaseki endorsed Asue Ighodalo, a former chairperson of Sterling Bank, as his preferred successor, Mr. Shaibu expressed disappointment, feeling sidelined despite his contributions to the governor’s second term.
Governor Obaseki cited the need for power rotation to Edo Central senatorial district, given his origins from Edo South and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole (now a senator), along with Mr. Shaibu, hailing from Edo North. Mr. Obaseki’s favored successor, Mr. Ighodalo, also comes from Edo Central.
