Edo Deputy Gov Shuaibu On His Way Out As He Faces Perjury Charge, Assembly Begins Impeachment Procedure

By Ayodele Oni

The Edo House of Assembly has confirmed receipt of a petition against the Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shuaibu, signalling commencement of impeachment proceedings against him.

The Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who announced the impeachment notice during Plenary on Wednesday, explained that the petition was dated March 5, and signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the Deputy Governor.

Aiguobarueghian stated that the members who signed the petition were more than the two- third requirement  stipulated in the constitution.

He also announced that the petition was based on two grounds of alleged perjury and revealing of government secrets.

The speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor.

Agbebaku also gave the Deputy Governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.

Shaibu’s resolve to participate in the governorship primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) contrary to the stand of Governor Godwin Obaseki, may be responsible for his latest predicament.

Coalition of Registered Political Parties in the state, at a meeting in Benin, had resolved that the plan by the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki  and the State House of Assembly under the leadership of Blessing Agbebaku, to impeach the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu “can ignite a chain reaction which can lead to anarchy.”

The CRPP Chairman, Samson Isibor and Secretary, Barrister John Isidhaome in a statement they signed said: “We implore the governor to jettison the idea of impeachment and work towards the peaceful transition of power to the next governor of Edo State.

“As far as we are concerned, the Deputy Governor has not committed any impeachable offence or breached his oath of office.

“The Edo people have the exclusive right to call for his impeachment if he commits any grievous offence like corruption, misappropriation of public funds etc.”