Impeachment of Philip Shaibu: Power is transient, not permanent-- CRPP tells Gov Obaseki, Agbebaku

--- Urge panel members to jettison offer

By Editor

March 23, 2024

As the Edo State House of Assembly continues its impeachment process against the  State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, the  leadership of Conference of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in the state has told Governor, Godwin Obaseki that power is transient and not permanent.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the Edo State House of Assembly had since March 6, 2024 commenced impeachment process against the state deputy governor over alleged gross misconduct and perjury.

Dailymonitorngr, also recall that the state leadership of CRPP had been  in the vanguard of advocating for amicable resolutions of the political difference between the deputy governor and the governor of the state Godwin Obaseki over the September 21, 2024 governorship ambition of the former.

The CRPP had not only appealed to governor Obaseki to prevail on the leadership of the State House of Assembly to suspend its impeachment move, but also called on the house to heed the appeal of well-meaning Nigerians  advising it to  discontinue its desirous decision to impeach the deputy governor.

Following the constitution of a seven-man panel by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on Friday, March 22, 2024 to probe the allegations against the deputy governor  by the state house of assembly, CRPP has again called on governor Godwin Obaseki to halt the impeachment move by the house.

In a statement titled, "CRPP call on the impeachment panel members to jettison the offer", dated March 23, 2024 signed by Dr Samson Isibor and Hon John Isidahome, chairman and secretary respectively advised governor Obaseki to remember that power is transient and not permanent.

According to him, for the umpteenth time we advise the outgoing Governor to heed the appeal of well-meaning Nigerians to discontinue his desirous decision to impeach his deputy, more so that he have few months to leave the office as a governor. Power is transient and not permanent, he should remember tomorrow.

He also appealed to the seven-man panel constituted by the chief judge of the state as a matter of "moral instinct"  turn down their appointments individually or collectively.

Isibor opined that the appeal become necessary, more so that the Deputy Governor has served Obaseki, the house of assembly originating summons by a court of competent jurisdiction, which he noted  should not be flouted. 

He also appealed to the Chief Judge of Edo State to emulate the two Judges in Ondo State during the ill-fated impeachment petition against the former deputy governor of the state and now the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

"A case in point is that of Ondo State where the Chief Judges on two different occasions stood their ground and refused to do the biddings of the power that be and that of the State Assembly. Peace there after returned to Ondo State automatically. 

"The Chief Judge of Edo State should emulate those two Chief Judges of Ondo State",he said.

The statement read in part:

"The announcement by the  Chief judge of Edo State setting up the so called impeachment panel to probe Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, did not come to us as a surprise based on the fact that he who pays or appoint the piper dictate the tune. 

"But our arguments are very fundament to the nascent democracy we are operating with the 3 arms of Government. the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary, each arm is independent of the other, Edo State house of Assembly led by Hon Blessing Agbebaku, rebuff the judiciary by turning down a court summon sent by a Federal High Court delivered by a High court bailiff.

"In fact the court bailiff was harassed and chased away by the House of Assembly security men on the order of the house of Assembly leadership. These actions of the Edo state Assembly lawmakers, now law breakers supposed to be viewed seriously as a slight on the Judiciary.

"The same Judiciary assented to the request of the state assembly that the Chief Judge should constitute a panel to probe Phillip Shaibu which the Chief Judge quickly assented to. The Chief Judge actions leaves much to be desired he has been quiet about the rascality of the assembly leadership.

"We are therefore appealing to the moral instinct of the panel members to turn down their appointments individually or collectively on moral ground justice and fair play more so the Deputy Governor has served Obaseki, the house of assembly originating summons by a court of competent jurisdiction we believe it should not be flouted.