Barely 24 hours after Vanguard exclusively reported that the
plot to impeach Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, was thickening,
the Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, served Shaibu an impeachment
notice, giving him seven days to respond to the allegation of constitutional
infractions.
At the sitting of the house, the Majority Leader, Mr.
Charity Aiguobarueghian, announced that a petition to that effect, dated March
5, 2024, was signed by 21 of the 24 members, against the deputy governor,
adding that the number of members who signed the petition were more than the
two-thirds requirement stipulated by the Constitution.
Two grounds of
impeachment
He also announced that the petition was based on two grounds: perjury and revealing of government secrets.
The House Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, who acknowledged
receipt of the petition, directed the Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the
impeachment notice on Shaibu and gave the deputy governor seven days to
respond.
Shaibu has been in the eyes of the storm following his
frosty relations with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, over the Edo
governorship ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Oshiomhole denies
involvement
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial
District and the Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state,
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has denied his alleged involvement in the move to
impeach Shaibu.
A statement by Oshiomhole’s Legislative Aide, Victor
Oshioke, said the report in the social media linking him to the plot to impeach
Shaibu was fake.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an
article circulating on social media regarding a purported plan by the Edo State
Governor Godwin Obaseki to call on lawmakers of Edo State House of Assembly to
begin impeachment proceedings against his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
“Ordinarily, we would neither be concerned nor bothered by
what methods the characters in the unending feud within the Edo State PDP
employ to settle scores among themselves. However, we are compelled to clarify
and set the record straight because in the said article, it was falsely
claimed, and I quote ‘our reporter also gathered that the governor have(sic) already
gotten across to Senator Adams Oshiomhole to help him lobby and talk to the APC
lawmakers in the House to support the impeachment move against Philip Shaibu
since he and the deputy governor are not in good terms with the Edo North
Senator.’
“We wish to categorically state that Senator Oshiomhole has
not, at any time, engaged in discussions with Governor Obaseki regarding plans
to impeach his deputy.““Let it be put on record that Senator Oshiomhole, as the
apex leader of the APC in Edo State, is solely focused on fostering goodwill
between the people of Edo State and the APC, with the goal of winning the
upcoming governorship election and returning the state to a path of progress
under an APC government.“
“Also, it is
important to state that matters of impeachment are the sole responsibilities of
the Edo State House of Assembly and the Edo State Judiciary. Political parties
have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process. Therefore, the
notion that Senator Oshiomhole can influence the actions of APC lawmakers
should there be any impeachment exercise in the Edo State House of Assembly is
simply preposterous. Senator Oshiomhole has not and will not engage in any
deals with Governor Obaseki on this or any other political issue.
“Lastly, we urge all Edo people to approach articles of this
nature with skepticism if the authors fail to take credit for their
allegations. As we begin the process leading to the September 2024 governorship
election in our beloved state, let us all strive for truthful and responsible
discourse in our political environment.”
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