Shaibu warns against violence ahead of Edo governorship poll
Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, has called for peace and denounced violence and anti-democratic actions as the state prepares for the September 21 governorship election. Shaibu, who was impeached on March 18 but reinstated by the court on July 17, made the appeal during a thanksgiving service at St. Paul Catholic Church in Benin to celebrate his legal victory. In his address, Shaibu emphasized the need for unity and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, despite any provocations. Describing himself as a “child of God,” Shaibu expressed that he had challenged God to demonstrate His presence in his life. “I said, prove to the world that truly I am your son. “They said they will impeach me, and when I go to court and by the time the judgment would come, the tenure would be over. “But God proved them wrong and the judgement came earlier than expected on July 17,” he said. He warned the youths against violence, saying they could be whoever they wanted without going to the streets. “You can be who you want to be when you are consistent and do what is right all the time. “Don’t let anyone disrupt this democracy. “You must stand your ground to make sure that democracy succeeds,” said the deputy governor. He said violence would only lead to suffering, adding that “Nigeria cannot afford to go to war. “There are too many economic problems that need to be solved,” he said. On the allegation that he was the mastermind of the Benin Airport attack, Mr Shaibu said the state government was only trying to cover up. “They killed a policeman and all of them must be picked up. “The men of the vigilance group and Public Work Volunteers did that. “They want to drag people in, so I called on the President and IG to set up an inquiry, not just to investigate but to proscribe the vigilance group and POWOV,” he said. The deputy governor said he had changed his style and now used his brain instead of resorting to violence. “I don’t move people to the street anymore. “They said I will soon go to the street, but I didn’t go. “I use my brain, and I have been winning,” he said. Earlier, the officiating priest of the church, Rev. Fr. Charles Omogiate, cautioned against killings in the name of seeking for positions. Position, he said, would come and go but human beings would remain. “If you take lives and property because you want position, know that you are on the part of destruction because God gives lives and only He has the power to take lives,” the cleric said.
‘I Remain Deputy Gov Till Nov, I Will Resume Office, Face My Work’ – Philip Shaibu Dares Obaseki
The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, declared on Friday that he will remain in office until November 11, the date of the upcoming governorship election. Shaibu’s statement came after an Abuja Federal High Court reaffirmed his position. In an appearance on Arise TV’s morning show, Shaibu announced his return to the office and criticized Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to pay him for the past year. Shaibu stated, “I’m elected deputy governor of this state and the court has reaffirmed it. I will be deputy governor till November eleven, even when the governor has not paid. He has not paid for the last one year. “I’m a law abiding citizen and I will go to the office this morning, if they want to stop me, they should. “I will not do anything that would lead to the loss of life. I have been maintaining peace, the office of the deputy governor must be given it’s rightful respect. “I will resume in the office and face my work, if he allows me to see him, I will and if not; I will face my work.” In addition, Shaibu revealed that he considers himself an unofficial member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He explained that his support for the APC’s governorship candidate is consistent with his personal choice, noting that party affiliations do not restrict one’s right to support any candidate. Giving reasons for supporting the APC governorship candidate in Edo state, he said, “In PDP now, everybody can support whoever they like. On the issue of supporting a candidate, the constitution guarantees that you can support who you like and you can belong to any political party.”
Court restores Philip Shuaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor
By Vivian Michael, Abuja Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday, nullified the removal of Phillip Shuaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor. The court, in a judgement held that Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal violated the provisions of the law. Having declared the removal as unlawful, the court subsequently ordered his instatement as deputy governor of the state. Besides, the court ordered the Inspector General of Police to restore his security details as deputy governor. Consequently, the Court ordered that his salaries, allowances should be paid to him from April. Details later.
BREAKING: Edo Govt To Retrieve Toyota Armored Jeep, 21 Other Vehicles From Ex-Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu
The Godwin Obaseki-led Edo State Government has announced plans to retrieve over 20 vehicles still in the possession of erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu. This was made known in a public notice signed by the State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, on Tuesday. In the notice titled ‘Publich Notice On Retrieval Of 22 Official Government Vehicles’, the Commissioner disclosed that Philip Shaibu has been given seven days to return the vehicles. He stated that should the former Deputy Governor fail to obey the directive, security agencies have been put on alert to retrieve the vehicles. The notice read: “The Edo State Government hereby issues this notice directing the retrieval of official government vehicles allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, which are currently in the custody of the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu. “The former Deputy Governor is by this notice given a seven-day ultimatum from the date of this publication to return the vehicles, as relevant security agencies have been put on alert to retrieve the vehicles after the expiration of the notice.”
Edo Guber: Court strikes out suits against Ighodalo’s candidacy for PDP
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Tuesday, struck out two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the coming Edo State gubernatorial election. In the ruling, Justice Ekwo held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaib, have no locus standi. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election. The first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, while the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer. The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively. The three plaintiffs, in their separate motions filed on February 19, sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held in February. 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February. 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit. Justice Ekwo, however, held that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardized by the primary election. Specifically, the judge said that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.
PDP unveils campaign council for Edo 2024 governorship election
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday in Benin unveiled a 200-member campaign Council for the September 21, 2024, Governorship Election in the State. In a statement, the PDP State Organizing Secretary, Tony Anenih (Jnr.), said members of the Campaign Council were versatile members of the PDP who have been carefully chosen to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo. Anenih noted that the campaign structure has an Advisory Council, to be headed by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, a Management Committee and a State Campaign Council, made up of 200 eminent members of the PDP. He said the women wing would be headed by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo while the youth wing would be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor. Anenih explained that the selection process was carried out under the direct supervision of the leaders of the party headed by Obaseki. “I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen, will deliver our erudite, intellectually-sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo,” he said. “The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state, with the Governor as Chairman; the Management Committee is made up of the Director General and 13 Deputies for Finance, Contact and Mobilization and Media/ Publicity Field Operations and Security, among others” According to him, the youth and women wings which are very critical wings will be working independently, its relationship with the other Directorates will be symbiotic. He added “On behalf of the party, I congratulate each and every one of you that have been selected, and the party hopes and expects you to hit the ground running.”
Court Refuses to stop impeachment move against Edo Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu
The Federal High Court in Abuja, again, refused to stop the alleged impeachment move against the incumbent Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr Phillip Shaibu by the State House of Assembly. Specifically, Shaibu prays the court to grant an order of status quo to be maintained by the House of Assembly and others involved in the impeachment move. Counsel to the plaintiff, Olawoyin Awoyale, (SAN) had orally requested for an order of status quo to be maintained by parties pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice. In his ruling, Justice Omotoso held that the cited authority was not applicable in the Shaibu’s case because the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly who are the principal actors in the impeachment bid have not been served with the originating summons of the suit as required by law. However, the Judge granted the request that the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly be served with the originating summons by substituted means. Specifically, Justice Omotoso ordered that the court process be pasted at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the State House of Assembly Complex both in Benin. Besides, the Judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered Courier Company. Justice Omotoso subsequently fixed April 15 for hearing of the case. The Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu who was in the room throughout the Wednesday’s proceedings declined to speak with newsmen. In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the Edo State Government, Edo State Governor, Edo State House of Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector General of Police IGP and Director General of the Department of State Services DSS were listed as the first to eighth defendants. Shaibu, in the suit, sought an order of the court restricting the third to fifth defendants from commencing any process by issuing a notice of allegation, holding proceedings, or setting up any panel of investigation for his removal pending the hearing of a motion on notice. He also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves or their agents, from interfering with the subject matter of the originating summons filed in the suit either by way of taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the deputy governor of Edo State pending the hearing of the motion on notice. Other reliefs sought are: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 8th defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, and or any other person or authority acting through them, from preventing the plaintiff either by threat of removal from office or adverse actions capable of hindering the plaintiff from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings, functions and other duties. “An order of interim injunction directing the defendants herein jointly, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, or any other person or authority acting through them, to maintain status quo ante bellum prevailing before the issuance of the purported notice or petition to commence removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and the final determination of the motion on notice. ”
Abure Denies Plan To Join Edo Governorship Race
Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has stated that he has no intention of participating in the Edo State gubernatorial election to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki. In an interview on Arise Television, Abure expressed concerns about leadership failures in the country, attributing them to a lack of internal party democracy within political parties. Abure emphasized the need for an open, transparent, and competitive electoral process, pledging to work with the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure the Edo State gubernatorial race is fair, free, and credible. He stated, “I have the responsibility to ensure the party gets the best candidate for the people of Edo State. Once again, I have no interest in becoming the gubernatorial candidate in the state.” Addressing the suspension of the party’s National Treasurer, Oluchi Okpara, over an alleged N3.5 billion fraud, Abure attributed the internal issues to external interference aimed at destabilizing the party post-2023 general elections. He remarked, “It is obvious that a lot of people are being used to disrupt and cause chaos in the party, jeopardizing its credibility as a formidable opposition force in the country.”
UNIBEN suspends academic activities over burial
The management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has ordered the temporary suspension of academic activities at the Ugbowo campus of the institution over the host community’s burial of a vigilante chairman scheduled for Saturday. The institution disclosed this in a statement dated February 9, 2024, signed by Professor Clement Ighodaro, Dean of Students Affairs, on behalf of the management of the institution. In the statement by the institution titled “Notice to UNIBEN Students on Security Alerts in Ekosodin Community and its Environ,” Prof. Ighodaro said the vigilante chairman was killed some time ago at Ekosodin community. “The alert from the information gathered concerns the burial ceremony this weekend of the vigilante chairman murdered some time ago at Ekosodin. “Students are therefore advised to conclude all activities today, Friday 9th February by 6 pm and to return to their places of abode in the community and to stay indoors. “They are to remain indoors the next day, Saturday, until the events of the burial in the community are over and other citizens can move about freely. Students on campus are also advised to return to their respective hostels before nightfall during this period,” he said. He also informed members of the university community that the institution’s gate leading to Ekosodin will be closed at 7 pm on Friday and Saturday. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, confirmed the statement. “The notice is from the university authority,” she said.