Edo deputy governor position: Omobayo sworn in, as Shaibu rejects impeachment

..New Deputy gov pledges loyalty to Obaseki

..Shaibu describes his impeachment as dictatorship

..AAC candidate, CRPP boss condemn ouster of ex-Edo deputy gov

By Titus Akhigbe

Following the impeachment of Comrade Philip Shaibu as deputy governor of Edo State, on Tuesday, by the Edo State House of Assembly, Engr. Marvellous Godwins Omobayo, 38, has been sworn-in as his replacement.

This is even as the former deputy governor has described his impeachment as a dictatorship.

The Chief Judge of Edo, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, administered the Oath of Office on Omobayo at the Government House in Benin.

Omobayo, appointed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, hails from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in the same Edo North senatorial district with the impeached Shaibu.

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The new deputy governor, born on July 19, 1986, is an engineer with professional experience in the oil and gas sector.

He had his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

He is a registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

His profile revealed he served as a Senior Maintenance Engineer at Dresser Wayne West Africa Limited.

In his acceptance speech, the new deputy governor pledged his loyalty to his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki and the people of the state.

According to his acceptance speech titled ‘Day of the Lord: A day I will never forget’, Omobayo said: “The oath of office I have just taken is my legal acceptance speech. It defines the legal limits that I can or cannot exceed while in office”.

“In the few critical months left to tidy up the work of this administration, my job as deputy governor is clearly and well cut out. I understand it very clearly. In line with the oath of office to which I have just subscribed, I make a solemn pledge to do all in my power, with God’s guidance to live up to expectations. I will give all it takes to meet the expectations of my principal, the party and above all, the good people of Edo State “.

However, Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor, rebuffed the action of the state House of Assembly in removing him from office.
In a video release shortly after his impeachment, Shaibu said: “I denounce in the strongest terms the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over trumped up charges.

“This is not just an attack on me as an individual, but on the very democratic principles that we hold dear.

“It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy”.

The Daily Times recalls that earlier on Monday, the Edo State House of Assembly impeached Comrade Philip Shaibu as the state deputy governor, following the adoption of the recommendation of the seven-man judicial panel led by retired Justice Stephen Omonua.

At plenary in Benin, the Majority leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghian, said the report of the 7-man judicial panel of inquiry presented to the house had two findings and one recommendation.

Aiguobarueghian further disclosed that the report of the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury levelled against the deputy governor while the panel found him guilty of disclosure of government secrets.

According to the report, the 7-man judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached on ground of disclosure of government secrets.

The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, conducted a head count of the lawmakers who voted for and against the impeachment of Shaibu.

18 out of 19 members present at plenary voted for the impeachment of the deputy governor while one abstained from the head count and voting process.

The clerk of the house stated that 2/3 (16 members of the House was needed to carry out the impeachment.

The assembly thereafter upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and thereafter impeached the deputy governor.

Thereafter, the speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku said: “Thereby, from my seat, I announce that the deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu stands Impeached”, while directing the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to forward copies of the impeachment to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.

Meanwhile, Dr. Udoh Oberaifo, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Monday, condemned in strong terms the impeachment of deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, by the Edo House of Assembly.

In a statement in Benin, Oberaifo said regardless of the charges levelled against Shaibu, due process was not followed.

Oberaifo noted that Shaibu was not given a fair hearing and described the impeachment as a blatant disregard of the principles of justice.

“Of particular concern is the fact that the impeachment proceeded despite a pending case filed by the deputy governor at the Federal High court.

“This legal action should have warranted a status quo, yet the impeachment was carried out regardless, casting doubts on the motives behind the hurried proceedings,” he said.

The AAC candidate raised the alarm over the connection between the Labour Party (LP) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

He alleged that the new deputy governor was a card-carrying member of LP, and was yet to resign his membership as at the time he was sworn in.

“This action is in clear violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and it underscores the connivance between the LP and PDP to consolidate power,” he added.

He condemned the display of political maneuvering and warned against godfatherism that has permeated Edo politics.

He urges the people of Edo state to reject the PDP and LP at the polls, come September 2024, and embrace the AAC as a viable alternative.

Oberaifo called on all Edo people to rally behind the AAC, embrace its programmes, visions, and manifestos, and cast their votes for him as the next governor of the state in September.

Also reacting, the Chairman of the Conference of Registered Political Parties, Edo State chapter, Samson Isibor, expressed disappointment over the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as the state deputy governor.

Isibor said the development was contrary to what the Edo people bargained for.

He, however, blamed the Chief Judge of the state, Daniel Okungbowa, for setting up the panel that investigated the allegation against Shaibu.

He noted that the haste in which the exercise was carried out showed bias against the former deputy governor.

He said: “This is not what the Edo indigenes bargained for. The impeachment of the deputy governor is illegal and should not be allowed to stay.

“I blame the Chief Judge for this illegal impeachment. The process only lasted for three days, which showed that they had their mind made up on what to do. Imagine, the charade that was carried out in a few days.”