Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has condemned the humiliation and denigration of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, through actions, which are antithetical to the rule of law, natural justice and tenets of democratic governance.

In a statement by the CHRISCED Executive Director, Dr, Ibrahim ZIkirullah, the group said that from a recent viral video, which showed how the deputy governor was locked out of the Government House, preventing him from accessing his office, it is clear that the face off he is having with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, is being taken to a ridiculous level by the governor’s camp.

ZIkirullah said: “While political disagreements and face-offs are common in a democracy, which gives room for plurality of perspectives, what is not acceptable is the denigration and reduction of the importance of an office, which is a creation of the Constitution. Illegal and extra-judicial actions like preventing an elected official from accessing his office undermine the Constitution, the rule of law and the principles of natural justice.”

“Those who authorised such illegalities may be targeting Shaibu as a person. However, what they don’t understand is that beyond the person occupying the office, they are actually undermining the office itself, which is the collective heritage of the people of Edo State.”

ZIkirullah pointed out that the deputy governor is not an employee or an errand boy of the governor, saying that the elected officials are partners in a joint ticket, which was endorsed by voters in an election.

He added: “Of course, there is no gainsaying that the governor, as the principal on the ticket, takes precedence as the leader and chief executive of the state. However, that does not give him the license to treat his deputy in a shoddy and unacceptable manner.

“It is similarly trite to assert that if the deputy governor has acted contrary to any law or administrative procedure, there are laid down procedures to hold him accountable.” (The Guardian)

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