Edo guber: Stakeholders seek urgent resolution of Obaseki, Shaibu feud

Amid the move by the House of Assembly to impeach Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, some stakeholders have called for urgent resolution of the feud between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki, ahead September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The call came as former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, denied reports that leaders of Edo South had agreed on who should be the running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

One of those seeking the resolution of the Obaseki/Shaibu feud is fiery Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Father Andrew Obiyaan who appealed to Governor Obaseki to prevail on the House of Assembly to halt the impeachment move against his deputy.

In a statement titled ‘Between Empathy and Impeachment for Your Deputy,’ Obinyan said: “I make a humble and passionate appeal to Governor Godwin Obaseki. I entreat you because I regard you as a civilized and enlightened man.

May it not be in the annals of Edo political history that there was once a Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, impeached under your watch for his aspiration. It will be perceived as a sting of “betrayal” and it will invariably redefine loyalty and aspiration as antithetical.

“This is the kernel of my entreaty: Leave your deputy alone to deal with his issues and resolve them without initiating impeachment. Reconciliation is always a prosperous option. Listen to your kind heart. I am not insinuating he must be Governor. Yet, we cannot justify an impeachment without putting a wedge on the path of positive advancement in other spheres of life.

“Please, Mr. Governor, talk to Edo State House of Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process. Honourable members must ensure that legislation prohibits any move that bears the semblance of retaliation. Do yourselves a favour because you don’t know the next victim in sudden political twists and turns.

“Bear with Philip Shaibu, not for his sake but for the sake of your own indomitable spirit. What I see in you is what I see in your Deputy – a resolute spirit. We often say only God can determine who gets power. This saying should not be personalized and meaningful only when it is to our advantage.

“When you were at your lowest point and facing your political trials, your rock bottom foundation was the support from Edo people and your deputy, who you used to call your brother.

“I am pleading. Your silence has been golden. Continue to be a big brother to him. Feel for the number two man who seeks power so passionately and determinedly without your support. A man whose level of determination makes him literally stressed out, worried, burdened, spending strength and resources, deserves empathy not impeachment.”

Meanwhile, Senator Rowland Owie, who is also an elder of the PDP said: “Edo South PDP leaders have not met to decide on who will be deputy governor to Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

It was reported on Monday that Ighodalo would this week officially announce his running mate and it was gathered that Edo South leaders met with Governor Godwin Obaseki recently where they were said to have suggested a name as their preference.

Based on this, the governor was said to have been mandated to relate the position of the Edo South leaders to Ighodalo.

However, Owie in a statement said nothing like that has happened and that those sending such information were deliberately misinforming the public for selfish reasons