Protesting residents warn against Shaibu’s impeachment

Residents of Jattu in the Etsako West Local Government, on Thursday, trooped out to protest against the impeachment move initiated by the Edo State House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The protesters,  under the aegis of the Peace Movement and Peoples Democratic Party  faithful, took to the streets in the early hours of Thursday, bearing placards.

Some of the inscriptions of the placards read: “We want peace in Edo State”; “Return the N500m bribe to Obaseki”; and “Shaibu is our Next Governor, no going back”; among others.

The Edo House of Assembly, on Wednesday, commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu, accusing him of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.

The impeachment notice is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and the governor since last year when Shaibu declared his interest in joining this year’s Edo governorship race.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters,  Aminu Umosor, said they would mobilise the people of the state and the PDP to work against the party if the Assembly  did not immediately drop the impeachment plan against Shaibu.

Umosor said, “The House of Assembly should drop this impeachment move against the deputy governor. He has not done anything that will warrant his being impeached. Governor Obaseki should also jettison this move as it will cause further rift in the party.”

Another protest leader,  Gafata Emmanuel, said, “I must warn the legislators against this act because the protest will continue until Governor Obaseki and the lawmakers embrace peace.”

 Meanwhile, Shaibu’s Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, said on Thursday that efforts were on to resolve matter.

“The PDP as a party has stepped in as a family to resolve the matter. The umbrella is big enough to accommodate everyone,” Ebomhiana said.

Announcing the impeachment proceedings on Wednesday, the Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghian, said the action was based on a petition dated March 5, 2024, signed by 21 out of the 24 members of the House.

“The petition against the deputy governor came in on March 5 and was signed by 21 out of the 24 members. The number of members who signed the petition was more than the two-thirds requirement stipulated in the constitution,” Aiguobarueghian said.

The Majority Leader said the allegations in the petition bordered on 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 gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.