- Obaseki and Shuaib have been at loggerheads over an undisclosed issue, a situation that is fueling rumour of the imminent defection of the deputy governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
- On July 28, Shaibu approached a federal high court in Abuja with a suit to stop an alleged impeachment plot against him
Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo, has weighed in on the political imbroglio between Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over an undisclosed issue, a situation that is fueling rumour of the imminent defection of the deputy governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On July 28, Shaibu approached a federal high court in Abuja with a suit to stop an alleged impeachment plot against him.
Shaibu accused the governor of preventing him from performing his constitutional duties.
Reacting to the suit, Obaseki alleged that the court action taken by Shaibu was in preparation of his defection to the APC.
The Edo governor said there was no plan to impeach his deputy while alleging that Shuaibu has been actively engaging with members of the APC at the national and state level negotiating his way into the ruling party.
On August 4, the court restrained Obaseki, the speaker, and other parties in the suit from initiating impeachment moves against Shaibu.
On Thursday, the court restated that parties in a suit filed by Shaibu should maintain the status quo, pending the next hearing date.
Reacting to the development, Oshiomhole warns Shaibu to tread with caution, he asked the embattled number two man in Edo state to resolve his issues with Obaseki.
Oshiomhole said the APC is not a “rehabilitation centre”, adding that the rate of defection in political parties shows that the only “constant factor is Nigeria”.
The former APC national chairman wondered if the court can rule on the purported planned impeachment of Shaibu.
He noted that the party and its members are satisfied with its current position as the leading opposition party in the state.
“All I can say is that regardless of the party divides, it is my wish for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony because of the super party to which we all belong, the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“The political parties, even the rates of decamping and recamping shows that the only thing that is constant is Nigeria and not the political parties.
“To that extent, as someone who has had the rare privilege to be the chief steward at the Osadebe Avenue, it is my wish that this government and even future governments regardless of the political parties, govern in peace.
“But what I read, if that is what you are referring to about somebody going to court to complain about suspicion of being impeached.
“I don’t know how court adjudicate over suspicion, maybe I am a very poor legal student.
“I don’t know about that but let me say this, to say that somebody wants to run to APC, APC is not a rehabilitation centre.
“I can tell you that for free. We, APC, are satisfied the way we are, we are happy in opposition and we are not about to receive people who are coming because they have lost out. No IDP camp in APC.”