A former governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole says he’s not working in cahoots with the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki to impeach his deputy from office.
Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Phillip Shaibu are up in arms against each other, with the latter under cross fire from the state house of Assembly which is trying to impeach him.
The state assembly has served Shaibu with impeachment notice, accusing for revealing state’s secret amongst other allegations.
21 of the 24 lawmakers in the Assembly signed the impeachment notice to remove Shaibu.
But those watching what is happening in the state insist that Shaibu’s sin is that he contested the recent PDP governorship primaries against Governor Obaseki’s wish.
The governor’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo has emerged as PDP candidate for the September governorship election.
Speaking in a statement on Wednesday, Oshiomhole who once had a chummy relationship with Shaibu said he has no hands I n his predicament.
The statement signed by one of his aides said Shaibu should carry his cross, the deputy governor’s fate, Oshiomhole stated is now in the hands of the Assembly and the Judiciary.
Oshiomhole said he has not entered into “any deals with Governor Obaseki on this or any other political issue.”
Part of the statement said: “Ordinarily, we would neither be concerned nor bothered by what methods the characters in the unending feud within the Edo State PDP employ to settle scores among themselves.
“However, we are compelled to clarify and set the record straight because in the said article, it was falsely claimed, and I quote “
“ _Our reporter also gathered that the governor have(sic) already gotten across to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help him lobby and talk to the APC lawmakers in the House to support the impeachment move against Comrade Philip Shaibu”
“We wish to categorically state that Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has not, at any time, engaged in discussions with Governor Godwin Obaseki regarding plans to impeach his deputy, as the apex leader of the APC in Edo State, is solely focused on fostering goodwill between the people of Edo State and the APC, with the goal of winning the upcoming governorship election and returning the state to a path of progress under an APC government.
“Also, it is important to state that matters of impeachment are the sole responsibilities of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Edo State Judiciary. Political parties have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process.
“Therefore, the notion that Senator Adams Oshiomhole can influence the actions of APC lawmakers, should there be any impeachment exercise in the Edo State House of Assembly is simply preposterous.”
Embattled Shaibu recently lost the PDP governorship ticket to Asue Ighodalo during the very controversial governorship primary.
