...As Governor Obaseki inaugurates Omobayo Godwins as Edo new Deputy Governor
The political atmosphere in Edo State took a new dimension on Monday when the state House of Assembly impeached embattled Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu ending a long-drawn drama between him and his former principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
This was even as a 27 year -old Omobayo Godwins, has been inaugurated as the new Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Shaibu was impeached during plenary session in Benin City, the Edo State capital in a move that began months ago following the soured relationship between Obaseki and his former deputy.
Shaibu’s impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa to investigate allegations of misconduct against him.
During plenary at the assembly complex in Benin City, the Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian said the report of the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry presented to the House had two findings and one recommendation.
Aiguobarueghian noted that while the report of the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury levelled against the deputy governor, the panel found him guilty of disclosure of government secrets.
According to the report, the judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached on grounds of disclosure of government secrets, following which the Clerk of the House Yahaya Omogbai conducted a head count of the lawmakers who voted for and against the impeachment of Shaibu.
Eighteen out of 19 members present at plenary voted for the impeachment of the deputy governor while one abstained from the head count and voting process.
The clerk of the House stated that 2/3 or 16 members of the House were needed to carry out the impeachment exercise.
The assembly then upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and subsequently impeached the deputy governor.
The speaker Blessing Agbebaku has since directed Omogbai to forward copies of the impeachment to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.
Meanwhile, Omobayo Godwins, 37, has been inaugurated as the Edo Deputy Governor, hours after Philip Shaibu was impeached by the state house of assembly.
,Godwins who beamed with smile, was sworn in around 1:40 pm on Monday by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, marking a major milestone in the political history of the state.
After he took the oath of office, an excited Omobayo who was dressed in a white kaftan and a red native cap to match, was greeted by a rousing crowd in one of the halls at the Government House.
Monday’s impeachment comes as a Federal High Court in Abuja was to resume sitting in the lawsuit filed by Shaibu to challenge the Edo State House of Assembly’s plan to impeach him.
But in a swift reaction to his impeachment, Shaibu faulted the move which he said is a threat to the country’s democracy.
