Impeachment: Obaseki/Shaibu feud deepens
… Orbih faction of Edo PDP set to defect to APC
…Ugbome , Orbih’s ally to be beneficiary of impeachment
By Titus Akhigbe
The bitter succession struggle between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his embattled Deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu is worsening by the day, owing to the looming impeachment of the latter.
On Wednesday, March 6,2024,the crisis of confidence between the warring duo came to a head when 19 out of 24 lawmakers signed a petition for the removal of Shaibu from office over alleged perjury and leaking of government secrets.Going further, on March 19 during plenary, the Edo Assembly lawmakers passed a resolution directing the Chief judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa to raise a panel to investigate the allegations the deputy governor.
The House of Assembly resolution followed a motion moved by the majority leader, Hon.CharityAiguobarueghian , noting that the motion was in line with section 188,sub-section 3 and 4 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
The impeachment moves against the embittered deputy governor assumed a worrisome dimension after he lost the bid to restrain the House of Assembly, the Chief judge and other parties in the court case instituted at the federal high court in Abuja .
READ ALSO: I started bleaching my skin because of Mide Martins…
Meanwhile, the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Okungbowa, to investigate the impeachment allegations levelled on the Deputy Governor will commence sitting on Wednesday, 3rd of April.
Justice Okungbowa had constituted the panel, headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonua, in compliance with the directive of the State House of Assembly, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct brought against Shaibu, in line with section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)
Other members of the panel are Prof. (Mrs.) Theresa Akpoghome, Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Dr. Andrew Oliha, Mr. Idris Abdulkareen, Barr. President Aigbokhian and Barr. (Mrs.) Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.
The Administrative Secretary of the panel, George Odidi, Esq; announced this in a statement .The two-paragraph statement disclosed that the panel will be sitting at the Judges’ Conference room, New High Court Complex, in Benin, the State capital.
“Take notice that consequent upon the inauguration of the above panel by His Lordship the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice D.I. Okungbowa in line with section 188 subsection 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the said Panel shall commence sitting at Judges Conference room, New High Court Complex, Benin City on Wednesday 3rd day of April, 2024 at 10:00 am prompt.
“Parties and/or their counsel are expected to be present on that day while the complainant is expected to be ready to present its case on that day,” the statement said.Curiously, reasons were not given for the sudden replacement of Prof.Violet Aigbokhaevbo from faculty of Law, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Prof.Boniface Onomion Edegbai of Dept.of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, UNIBEN,who hitherto made the earlier list.
However,the embattled Deputy governor,who had been out of the state for weeks suddenly appeared to join the Christian community to observe this year’s “washing of feet”ritual observed by Roman Catholic church on Thursday, March 28 in Benin city.He reportedly took to social media afterwards saying “I joined the Christian world to observe this year’s washing of feet at the St.Agnes Catholic church”. Maundy Thursday is a yearly ritual that proceeds Easter celebration by the Catholic church in line with the Christian calendar to mark Christ’s death and resurrection.
Interestingly,it was reliably gathered that the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) faction led by Dan Osi Orbih and known as Legacy Group in the state has concluded arrangements to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with thousands of supporters following the emergence of Obaseki’s preferred governorship aspirant,Dr.Asue Ighodalo as party The party crisis worsened when Obaseki against all odds chose to ignore the Legacy Group,fondly called the old PDP during search for a running mate.Barr.Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to State Government(SSG),who is also from the Governor’s faction was made the running mate to Ighodalo.
According to a party official,who is obviously disturbed by the winner takes all stance of governor Obaseki,”Am worried because the governor has finally nailed the coffin of PDP in the state by also picking a running mate from his faction.He has completely left out the old PDP and I don’t see them working for us during the governorship election.”
On the planned defection of Orbih group to APC,the party official, who passionately pleaded for anonymity did not only confirm the looming defection, but said it will be massive.
However, a reliable Government House source confided in this reporter that Obaseki had concluded arrangements to make Barr. Paschal Ugbome,a former member of Edo House of Assembly and a known political ally of Orbih the deputy governor, once Shaibu is impeached. Ugbome is also from Etsako West,like Shaibu.The question is ,will the Ugbome arrangement placate the angry Orbih group? Only time will tell.
