•Urges Edo Assembly to investigate Edo Governor

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned what it calls “irritating pettiness” by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his unnecessary executive antagonism directed at his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

“We have read series of stories in the media regarding the unacceptable level of pettiness that has become the governance modus operandi of the Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, particularly with regards to his absolute disrespect for the office of the Deputy Governor of Edo State occupied by virtue of a joint ticket by His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu,” the group said in a statement by its National Director, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.

“The two actions that speak to this act of treachery are that of expulsion of the Deputy Governor out of the premises of the Government House in Benin City to a street flooded by muddied and dirty latrine water. And secondly, the refusal of the security officers attached to the Government House to grant access to the Deputy Governor and thus presenting the high office of the Deputy Governor as that of an unwanted irritant when, in fact, there can’t be the office of state Governor without that of Deputy Governor.”

“We think that the Edo State House of Assembly, should investigate if these decisions of the Governor against his Deputy fall within the jurisdiction of decisions made in an atmosphere of ‘unsound mind’ in which case if the legislators determine that the quality of such decisions can be so classified to have possibly originated from 'directives emanating from an unsound mind,' they should impeach the Governor. There is the need for the house to constitute an investigative panel, including clinical psychological experts to examine if it is possible for such decisions against the Deputy Governor who holds a joint mandate with the Governor to have been originated from 'a sound mind.' But if the contrary is the determination reached by the House that such decisions are from a sound mind, then the people of Edo State should be told transparently.”

HURIWA cited Section 15 (5) of the 1999 constitution which says that the State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power; Section 182. (1)Of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria which states that “No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if - (2) Where in respect of any person who has been (b). declared to be of unsound mind; Section 187 (2) The provisions of this Part of this Chapter relating to qualification for election, tenure of office, disqualifications, declaration of assets and liabilities and Oath of Governor shall apply in relation to the office of Deputy Governor as if references to Governor were references to Deputy Governor.”

HURIWA said it was of the opinion that the decisions of the Governor against his Deputy should be looked at to see if they were impeachable offences or not.

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has been denied access to his old office at the Government House in Benin, the state capital.

Shaibu arrived at the Government House on Monday morning but met the gate leading to his office under lock and key.

He says was yet to receive a formal letter from the Governor’s Office “and that,” according to him, is the proper channel to transmit a directive pertaining to the relocation to a new office.

“Up till now, I don’t have any official communication that I should relocate. The only people that have official communication are my civil servants. The civil servants have official communication but I don’t. As I am speaking to you now, I am standing by the gate,” he said while on a phone call to a yet-to-be-identified person.

Last week, a letter said to be from the Office of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, was reported to have been sent to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, directing Shaibu to relocate to a new office situated at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.

However, sources close to Edo’s Number Two citizen claimed that the new office is abandoned and in dire need of rehabilitation.

The development is the latest in the tussle between Governor Obaseki and his Deputy. While there have been speculations about plans to impeach Shaibu, the Edo Assembly has denied such.

Obaseki had also accused his Deputy of plotting a coup against him. But at a recent gathering to mark the anniversary of the state’s creation, Shaibu described his principal as a brother, saying he remains loyal to him despite their political differences.