Shaibu Still at Obaseki’s Mercy in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu writes that since Edo state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, dragged his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to court on alleged impeachment move, the atmosphere in the state has been laced with one exciting drama after the other.

It is not always good to instigate trouble because once it starts, no one knows how it will end. Since the drama of going to court to stop what many believed is a phantom impeachment story by the Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, unfolded, his political life has never remained the same.

Hardly a week passes without Shaibu suffering one political misfortune or the other.

Week one was the demonization of Shaibu by Obaseki using all manner of tactics to make him look like king cobra whose head must be crushed to weaken the venom in its poisonous spit.

The next move against him was the removal of Shaibu from overseeing local government administration in the state and collection of state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The move was aimed at ensuring that he was no longer empowered as against an Igbo saying “Nwangwipuoezeyaatagbuoonyezuruya” (when an ophan grows teeth, he bites the person that trained him).

Another move launched against Shaibu was the removal of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sabina Okere, a Permanent Secretary with the state Sports Commission as well as others whose rise to position of prominence either in the civil or public service were believed to have been influenced by him.

The next was the disbandment of his media team. As it is today, the deputy governor has no one to report his activities unlike in the past. This was strategic because of the importance of publicity in governance.

But now he cannot make any public statement using the state media apparatus.

This step was taken following the alleged security breach caused during the celebration of 60 years anniversary of referendum that culminated in the creation of Midwest Region, and the 30 years anniversary of the creation of Edo State.

Apparently under pressure, Shaibu, on September 5, 2023, issued  a statement withdrawing the law suit saying his decision was to respect the intervention of several prominent individuals including traditional and religious leaders, and also appreciated the governor for agreeing on the peace initiatives.

The statement read: “Re: Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023 between: – Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu and Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, The Governor of Edo State and The Chief Judge of Edo State.

“Arising from the series of meetings held with me and also with Mr. Governor by well-meaning Edolites and indeed Nigerians including Party Leaders, Traditional Rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev’d Dr. Augustine Akubeze, the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese on the issues that led to my going to Court on the above-named suit and with due respect to these eminent personalities and leaders whose persuasions and persons I cannot ignore, I, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu have authorized and instructed my Solicitors to withdraw the Suit forthwith.

“I wish to sincerely thank and appreciate these well-meaning Nigerians, party leaders, traditional rulers, and my archbishop, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze for their kind words, advice and encouragement thus far in ensuring peace and unity in our dear state. I also wish to place on record my special thanks to Mr. Governor, my boss and senior brother for this path of peace,” he said.

Despite the suit withdrawal, Shaibu was still  kicked out of Government House to an inconsequential location. His new office is now at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, while the state Government House is at No. 1, Dennis Osadebey Avenue. The place previously house the State Procurement Agency the signpost of which was replaced with that of Office of Edo State Deputy Governor.

To effect the movement, a letter from the office of the Head of Service (HoS) had already directed the deputy governor and staff working with him, to relocate to the new office. This directive was carried out despite Shaibu’s withdrawal of the suit he instituted against his boss governor Godwin Obaseki and others in Abuja over a purported plan to impeach him.

A visit to the new office complex meant for the deputy governor, saw some staff moving into the newly renovated office. There were also some plain cloth security aides to the deputy governor who drove into the facility and later left.

An aide to Shaibu while confirming the development said, “we have been told to move and we have started movement today. “The memo was sent directly to the Permanent Secretary, it was a two-paragraph memo from the HoS but the civil servants are the ones moving right now, the letter was sent to the PS so we are waiting for directives. The civil servants are moving today but we may move before the end of the week”

With previous political dexterity associated with Shaibu, many analysts believed the suit withdrawal was too early in coming. They believed that first there was a move to impeach him otherwise the court option to stop the process would have been unnecessary.

According to one of the analysts, with Shaibu’s position as the deputy governor of the state, there is no way intelligence report on plan to impeach him wouldn’t have reached his ears, hence the need to stop it through a court process.

“That court move was his trump card. Unfortunately, he has filtered it away by withdrawing the case. That will not stop his impeachment because those who want him out will now hing their intentions to do away with him, using all manner of means”, the political observer who preferred anonymity said.

Besides, the analyst said “Has the withdrawal stopped the witch-hunt? The answer is no! Otherwise this latest move of relocating his office would have been unnecessary since from the tone of the letter of withdrawal, there was negotiation because of the intervention of some prominent individuals both traditional and religious. For me, it was a trick to completely disarm him before the sledge hammer will finally fall on him.”

Another analyst stressed that for the state chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Azeigbemi, to  describe the withdrawal of the case as a step in the right direction and a good thing for the party, means there was a dialogue involving prominent personalities and certain agreements reached.

He quoted Aziegbemi as saying: “This is the right thing to do. Things have to happen for other things to happen. But since this has happened, we have a 50-50 chance of better things to come.” He said for Obaseki to have acted differently after the truce of suit withdrawal shows he has something else in mind rather that good fate.

This, according to the analyst, is a booby trap which Shaibu has fallen into and very soon he will be singing his own farewell song as deputy governor.

However, another commentator and immediate past state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  ChrisAzebamwan, described the entire scenario playing out presently as nemesis.

He said the meteoric rise of Shaibu from his  cluster of modest dwellings in Jattu-Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State to the dizzying heights of the Deputy Governor’s palatial mansion fronting the highbrow Benin Golf Course sounds like a perfect fairy tale.

Azebamwan said Shaibu had a shining role model in the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole and became a unionist and a comrade, and gleefully told all who cared to listen that the now Senator Oshiomhole was his father which prompted Oshiomhole gladly and joyfully mentored Philip and in that role, paved the way for Philip to become a member of the Edo State House of Assembly.

“He became the Majority Leader of the House, and he thrived and flourished. For eight unbroken years, he enjoyed the trappings, privileges and largesse of his position and office. He was the surefire and unfailing liaison with Government House in Osadebe Avenue, Benin City where his adopted father, Oshiomhole, was governor.

“After an eventful and highly rewarding eight years in the House of Assembly, and riding on Oshiomhole’s goodwill, benevolence and magic touch, Philip easily and effortlessly breasted the tape in an election that elevated him to the hallowed green chambers of the House of Representatives.

“Hardly had he settled down in Abuja when he was invited to pick up the highly coveted ticket of being running mate to the governorship candidate and his current boss, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Thus, Philip became the deputy governor of Edo State and served at a point as Acting Governor.

“As our elders say in the immortal words of Chinua Achebe, “those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble”.

“This aptly describes the eventual macabre dance of Shaibu who became arrogant and perfidious. He did not just bite the fingers that fed him, he voraciously chewed those fingers and when he was done, he maliciously threw the bones to the ravaging dogs”, he enthused.

Azabanmwan did not stop at that. He said Shaibu’s arrogated to himself, the aura of invisibility and thought himself indomitable; and in his mind’s eye, he was the conqueror of giants who underhandedly masterminded the humiliation and embarrassment of his adopted father and benefactor, Oshiomhole who was dragged through the courts until he was hounded out of office.”

According to him, “But to the credit of Oshiomhole like the proverbial phoenix, he rose from the ashes and is today, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and undisputed leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

“While, Shaibu in his unbridled ambition to succeed his boss as governor, has fallen out with Obaseki and gone to court to secure a restraining order against his suspicion of a possible impeachment, whatever that means. The media space is currently awash with speculations that Philip wants to come back to the house that birthed him politically.”

He said the public is eagerly watching the unfolding drama and awaits the closing scene in Shaibu’s comedy of errors as “Oshiomhole was famously quoted as saying that if those speculations are true, the APC is neither a rehabilitation centre for homeless politicians, nor an IDP camp for displaced public office holders.”

Nonetheless, further speaking on the development, some citizens of the state have expressed worry that the rift between the governor and his deputy is affecting governance in the state.

A resident who spoke on the issued noted that throughout the tour ahead of the state local government election by the governor, there was no inauguration of projects or laying of foundation of laudable ones by the governor rather comments were centred on Shaibu’s alleged disloyalty to his boss.

He concluded that governance is being impacted negatively as it is now replaced with drama following the disagreement between Obaseki and Shaibu.

In spite to this however, the disagreement did not abate because on Monday, September 18, 2023 when Shaibu attempted to resume office after his vacation, he met the gate locked, chained with iron bars and heavy padlock.

Like one of the aides at Government House reasoned, since the deputy governor’s office was already relocated, wisdom demands that he should go to his new office rather that creating a scene or crying wolf when actually there is none.

Like a child beaten black and blue, Shaibu had no alternative that to abide by the new order of going to where he was asked to go. Completely devasted and having no choice at the moment, Shaibu decided to eat the humble pie when last Thursday, he begged profusely to be let out of the present predicament that he created for himself by appealing to his principal, Governor Obaseki to temper mercy with justice by forgiving him his trespasses.

Shaibu made the plea while addressing journalists shortly after receiving members of the Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (CMON) who were on a courtesy visit to his office.

He said both he and his principal,  GovernorObaseki, need to come back together as it was in the past to finish well on the ‘project Edo’ both of them started together more than six years ago

His words: “Like I have always told people, I am a loyal servant who will always support the Governor. It is a vow (I took) that nothing can change. I only wish that the relationship we had comes back.

“I am really missing my Governor and I know God will touch his heart and those who are trying to cause division between us that I mean well. If there is any mistake that I have made as a human, it was not out of wickedness. I have a very clean heart.

“I appeal to the governor, if there is anything that I have unknowingly done wrong, please forgive me and let’s continue together as we have always been the envy of many states, it is still possible.

“I am sorry, my governor. I need us to keep working together,” Shaibu added, saying he has ressumed office at his new office outside the Government House.

One is yet to know whether his professed sin would be forgiven as events unfold in the coming days.