CRPP condemns continued impeachment move against Edo deputy governor

By Editor

March 20, 2024

The Edo State chapter of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has condemned the continuation of the impeachment process against the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu by the leadership of the State House of Assembly in spite of pleas by religious and political leaders.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the House had on March 6, issued impeachment notice on the deputy governor over allegation of gross misconduct, perjury and disclosure of government classified information to the public.

The house gave seven day ultimatum to the deputy governor respond to the allegations.

Worried by the impeachment move, nine groups under the umbrella of the Catholic Lay groups of Nigeria on March 12, 2024 visited the House of Assembly to beg the leadership of the house to temper justice with mercy and jettison the impeachment move against the deputy governor.

In spite of the interventions of the Catholic body and the earlier one by the Dr Augustine Akubeze, Catholic Archbishop of Benin City and some political leaders in the state, the House remain unperturbed.

Not relenting to carry out its plan, the House on Tuesday, March 19, passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge of the State, Daniel Okungbowa to set up a seven man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor.

Following the resolution, the  state chapter of the CRPP berated the continuing move of the house to sack the deputy governor.

A statement signed by Dr Samson Isibor, the State chairman of coalition and made available to newsmen in Benin City expressed surprise that in spite of the  interventions of well-meaning Nigerians including highly respected religious leaders and political leaders, the house was still hell bent on carrying out with the impeachment.

Isibor, also condemned the alleged harassment and chased away of a Federal High Court bailiff by the House of Assembly security men while at the premises of the house to deliver a court summons on the leadership of the house.

"The CRPP was surprised that in spite of interventions of well-meaning Nigerians including highly respected religious leaders and political leaders, appealing to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State house of assembly members and leadership to exercise restraint and jettison their planned impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaitbu, they are unperturbed, still going ahead to carry out their unpopular move to impeach the Deputy Governor.

"Most disturbing is the rejection of the Federal High Court Summons delivered to the House of Assembly by the Federal High Court Bailiff who was harassed and chased out by the Assembly security men on the orders of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly.

"It is quite appaling that the law makers that supposed to honour a court summons should behave arrogantly, harassed and chased out a harmless Court Bailiff discharging his constitutional duty from one of the three arms of Government recognized by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The  act of the assembly is condemnable.

"The Assembly failed to realize that the case is not a personal issue, Those who live in glass house must not throw stones. If they believe in justice and fair play they should

gladly honour the court summons and present their allegations against the Deputy Governor in an open court. A clean mind fears no accusation. 

"We had earlier affirmed the innocence of the Deputy Governor of any accusation level

against him, rather it was witch hunting and political victimization of the highest order by

Governor Obaseki because his Deputy dare come out to exercise his constitutional right to be voted for. 

"As we've said earlier nobody have the right to stop anybody from exercising he/ her constitutional right to participate in any election", he said.

The group urged the governor and the leadership of the house to channel their energies to the development of the state, opining that almost eight years of Governor Obaseki-led government, there is no good governance in the state.

The group also decried the high rate of insecurity in the state and high cost of living.

"Insecurity is on the high side, Fulani herdsmen kidnap on daily basis, high cost of living is becoming unbearable while the Governor Obaseki is lackadaisical about it. What we want in Edo State is food not selfish impeachment", he added.