By Ayo Yusuf
The close friendship between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, appeared to have hit the rocks as maneuvers over who succeeds Mr. Obaseki next year reaches fever pitch.
Mr Obaseki who was first elected governor of Edo State on 29 September 2016 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be rounding off his second term, won under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2024.
Mr Shaibu who is evidently eager to take over from him had on occasions signaled his interest to his boss hoping for Mr Obaseki’s endorsement but the governor had always parried the discussion on the excuse that what is important now is to finish their tenure strong.
According to Mr. Obaseki, “Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambitions with me. The last time we spoke of my successor after the House of Assembly election, I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and conclude all the projects we started. It’s only when we do this right that we will have the support of the people for my successor. I am not angry, but naturally, I should be disappointed. I understand what is going on.”
Mr Shaibu however appeared to have lost faith in the governor’s intentions. He believed instead that the governor is planning to impeach him from office and thus make it impossible for him to take advantage of his position as deputy governor in his quest for the highest office in the state.
As a result the deputy governor reportedly approached a Federal High Court in Abuja some two weeks ago to stop any possible impeachment moves against him.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police, the State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State are listed as the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth defendants, respectively.
Mr. Shaibu was seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th, and 5th defendants/respondents, or their agents, from commencing an impeachment process against him. He also prayed the court to restrain the governor of the state or another person acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the state’s deputy governor.
However, Governor Obaseki has denied any knowledge of plans to impeach his deputy and rather accusedMr. Shaibu of planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
He said he was sure his deputy was more desperate to become governor than to ensure the government finishes strong and deliver on its promised dividends of democracy.
Asked about the impeachment threat allegedly hanging over his deputy, Mr. Obaseki said he had no plans to impeach Mr. Shaibu and that the move by Shaibu seeking a court order to stop his purported impeachment is preemptive and merely to cover his plan to defectto the All Progressives Congress.
“The deputy governor has been actively engaging with senior actors both at the national and state levels of the APC, negotiating his way into their party, and he is on the verge of finalising moves to defect to the APC.”
Mr. Shaibu has denied having any plans to rejoin the APC which he left together with Mr Obaseki when it appeared the party was going to stifle their plans for a second term.
The deputy governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, said rumours that he planned to leave the PDP was the handiwork of mischief makers who were bent on widening the rift between thr deputy governor and his principal, Obaseki.
“Hackwriters are at it again. Mischief makers bent on destabilising our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu,” the statement claimed.
“They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the All Progressives Congress, next week. There is no iota of truth in this.
“To further put a lie to this, the spin doctors claimed that the APC National Working Committee, NWC, is set to receive him in Abuja. The question here for discerning minds is: is it the NWC of a party that receives a defector into the party? Shaibu has never minced words, vowing to sink and swim with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki. This, he has said several times in public fora.’’
Sources in the state told TheNewDiplomat that the issue is that Mr Obaseki is opposed to Mr. Shaibu‘s plan to succeed him because he rather favours a successor from Edo Central, a region that has yet to taste power after the court sacked a former governor, Oserheimen Osunbor, who is from the zone, in 2008 after 18 months in office.
Mr. Shaibu may also have incurred the wrath of his boss when he dumped the swearing-in of commissioners in Benin to attend the inauguration of the National Assembly, where he reportedly met and fraternised with a former governor of the state, Senator Adam’s Oshiomhole, who had a famous falling out Mr. Obaseki.
Mr. Shaibu is perceived to be working towards mending fences with his former godfather, Senator Oshomhole,a move that must have angered the powers that be on Osadebe Avenue in Benin.
Peeved by his deputy’s alleged betrayal, Mr. Obaseki has responded swiftly by denuding his deputy of some of his powers. He has brought the office of revenue collection under the direct supervision of the governor’s office, including that of local government, which was formerly under the deputy governor’s office
The governor was also recently seen at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, receiving former Olympians and taking them on a tour of the facilities, a function that would have been carried out by Mr. Shaibu (who was away in the United States of America at the time).
However, at the plenary of the House of Assembly on Monday, there was no mention of the impeachment move against Mr. Shaibu, though sources say it is only a matter of time as the governor’s group already had the numbers to impeach Shaibu.
Expectedly, concerned citizens and groups have waded into the matter in a bid to bring a lasting solution to the rift. While some have chided the deputy governor for taking his boss and others to court, others opined that Mr. Shaibu has the right to approach the court to save his political career.
A lawyer, Osagie Obayuwana, said that Shaibu did not have to wait till he was impeached (which bothers him on his rights) before making the move.
He said, “People take the EFFC and DSS to court (due to perceived fear) to get an ex parte order to stop these agencies from arresting them. And in many instances, those matters never see the light of day.’’
However, a former Commissioner for Communication in the state, Andrew Emwanta, said it was obvious that the governor and his team were not comfortable with Mr. Shaibu’s decision to run for governorship next year.
He said, “It is clear that the governor and his team are not comfortable with the deputy governor’s decision to run for the office of the governor. Oshiomhole is a mutual benefactor to the two of them. In 2016, he sponsored the candidature of Godwin Obaseki, who was relatively unknown in the political space. He saw Obaseki as a technocrat who needed to be brought in to manage the economy because he was the chairman of Oshiomhole’s economic team.
“Against all odds and advice, he was imposed on the party, and he also brought his political godson, Shaibu, who was in the House of Representatives, to run as Obaseki’s running mate. Unfortunately, Oshiomhole’s removal as national chairman was sponsored by these men through his ward chairman, who suspended him and removed him as national chairman of the APC. Today, Oshiomhole is a senator, and I hope Shaibu’s ambition is on solid footing.
“His impeachment sounded like a joke, but it has become real, and to avert that reality, there was a need to go to court to stop it. If the impeachment wasn’t real, I don’t think the deputy governor would have gone to court. The governor is denying it, but it is real. As one of the defendants in the case, he is supposed to file a counter affidavit, which he has not done. He feels it is more convenient to deny the impeachment moves in the media, but he needs to get his lawyers to do the needful and appear in court.’’
Reverend Olu Martin, a public affairs analyst, said that the deputy governor should be diplomatic and mature in his quest to succeed Obaseki.
“There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but if your principal doesn’t give you that nod, it does not mean you should blackmail him. Because the governor has been having issues with some persons in the past, he wants to portray the governor in a bad light, so to me, it is a complete mischief.’’
“Their tenure will end on November 26, 2024. I think the deputy governor just realised that the governor may want to play fair. Don’t forget that Edo Central just had 20 months as governor that the law doesn’t even recognise.
“I think the governor is looking at a situation where all the major tribes in Edo State see themselves as brothers and sisters. So, I think he just wants to ruffle it a little.
“I cannot verify claims that he has been stopped from carrying out his functions. But the deputy governor has not shown any evidence to that effect; the only one in the public domain is the directive by the governor that revenue generation comes under his office.
The governor has the right to do this. The constitution says that the only duty the deputy governor has is to assist the governor. So it is the governor who determines the level of assistance he wants from his deputy.’’
Although all eyes seemed to rest on Senator Oshiomhole as their former benefactor to bring peace between the duo, the idea that he would fight for Mr Shaibu’s plan to be governor seemed far detached following his statement that the All Progressives Congress was not a place to rehabilitate failed politicians.
Recently, leaders from Edo South Senatorial district have urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to forgive his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu if he humbles himself and ask for forgiveness.
Speaking through its Leader, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, while on a solidarity visit to the governor, the zone said they had come to see the governor and to reaffirm their total commitment to his administration while praying that God gives the governor the wisdom to end the rift with his deputy.
He said: “Our leaders from Edo South Senatorial District resolved to visit you. You have done a lot for the State and we are here to support your administration and re-affirm our support and commitment, particularly at this turbulent time in the country.
“We are aware of what is going on between you and your Deputy and we stand by you and pray God gives you the wisdom to take the right path. The Deputy Governor is a younger brother. If he finds time to come to Your Excellency, please accept him, so we can end well,” he added.
Governor Obaseki commended leaders for supporting his administration in the last seven years.
