• Says Governor in exile!
On Monday, 30 September, 2024, the Court reinstated deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu fully resumed official duty with the inspection of ongoing contracts awarded by the Edo State Government.
Shaibu no doubt was inspired by the recent Justice Omotosho judgement which denied Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki stay of execution order in his impeachment, and ordered his immediate return to office.
Accompanied by a number of aides and security details, Shaibu had a private audience with the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Edwin Iwo-Nemi, before continuing with the inspection.
At the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA)
The deputy Governor inspected the Government owned Raddisson Blu Hotel on Golf Course Road after which he inspected work on the Central Road and Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), all in Benin City.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare in reaction said; the inspection was in clear violation of a Court order following his impeachment.
But Shaibu simply dismissed the assertion with the wave of the hand, saying that he would not respond to people in exile; a subtle reference to Governor Obaseki who is said to be on vacation in Venice, Italy after a failed effort to see his anointed; Asuelime Ighodalo win the Saturday, 21 September, 2024 Governorship election in the State.
After an unscheduled brief meeting with the contractors, Shaibu told journalists that he had since resumed duties following his reinstatement by Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
"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. You should understand the difference between the Office of the Governor and Office of the Deputy Governor and the Constitutionality of the office.
"I am deputy Governor and my role is clearly defined. There was never a time I was never a deputy Governor. It is an elective and not an appointive position! I have my certificate of return. I have two certificates of return!"
The deputy Governor further in his assertion added that he will be going round in the next two weeks beginning with Edo South, to be followed by Central and North in that order; to check what the outgoing administration has done.
"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 Raddisson 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 the ground and not in exile. A new sheriff is in town and we must handover to him. That is where we are! I am doing my work as deputy Governor of Edo State!"
For several hours, Shaibu's attempt to enter the Government House in the G.R.A was earlier seriously resisted by security personnel; obviously acting on the instructions of the Obaseki's administration.
In response to the situation, Obaseki’s special adviser on media projects, Crusoe Osagie in a statement cautioned the returning deputy Governor against any action that could violate the law.
“Shaibu, just like any private citizen, can take a tour around the exceptional projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
"We warn, however, that both 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 the authority of the law.”
Crusoe however enjoined the people of the State to go about their lawful businesses, while assuring that the State Government would always ensure the protection of lives and property, in line with the extant laws in Edo.
There was a combined security operatives on standby from 8 a.m. on Sunday at the main gate of Government House, Benin, with many Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) also deployed, to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Osagie, on Sunday, had raised the alarm that Shaibu was planning to invade the Government House in Benin with thugs on Monday, September 30, 2024.
He alleged that the planned invasion, was to enforce his reinstatement despite a stay of execution appeal filed, challenging Justice James Omotosho’s judgment.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from what he termed: his “devious” plot, which he described as a clear recipe for chaos.
“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal, and we appeal to the IGP 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 (Inspector Onuh Akoh of No. 45, Police Mobile Force, Abuja). We believe that is one death too many, and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such.
“Edo State Government’s lawyers have written to the IGP and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact that all actions relating to the Enforcement and/or execution of the judgment of Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho in suit number: 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.”
Osagie also stated that the appeal case raised special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds, in respect of which the court ought to grant the application, to ensure that the plaintiff/respondent (Shaibu) would do nothing to cause a breach of the peace or breakdown of law and order in Benin and other parts of the State.
Reacting; Shaibu's chief press secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the effect that Edo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is making plans to invade the Government House on Monday, September 30, 2024, in a bid to enforce two different court judgements, ordering his reinstatement.
“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood, for whatever reason.
“As it is today, in the eyes of the law and the eyes of the good people of Edo State, indeed, Nigerians, Philip Shaibu is the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State. We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us.
“Obaseki and his co-travellers should accept the fact that the good people of Edo State have spoken, and his godson, Asue Ighodalo, has been roundly rejected at the Governorship election of September 21, 2024. Sadly, this reality is yet to dawn on them.
“Crusoe Osagie, the purveyor of the fake news, is well known as an alarmist and propagandist who thrives on rumours and beer parlour gossip, with little or no respect for the ethics of our cherished profession; Journalism. So, he has to be ignored!"
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