Politics
‘I Will Fight So That Governors Will Respect Their Deputies’ – Shaibu
Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has stated that his legal battle against impeachment was a fight to protect the dignity and office of deputy governors across Nigeria, which he believes has been ridiculed since the return of democracy in 1999.
Speaking after a thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Benin on Sunday, Shaibu described his court victory as a win for democracy and an act of God.
He emphasized the need for the National Assembly to enact laws that would safeguard the office of deputy governors, ensuring they are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.
Shaibu expressed dismay over the treatment of deputy governors by some state governors, highlighting the systemic disdain despite both offices running on the same electoral ticket.
He stressed that his struggle was not just personal but aimed at setting a precedent that upholds the integrity of the office of the deputy governor.
The deputy governor also called for an investigation into the death of Police Inspector Onu Ako, who was killed on Thursday during Shaibu’s exit from Benin Airport alongside All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Shaibu’s reinstatement by the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice J. K. Omotosho, marked a significant turn in Edo State politics.
The court overturned his impeachment and ordered the payment of his salaries and allowances from April when he was impeached.
Additionally, the court issued an injunction restraining the state government from preventing Shaibu from performing his official duties.
In his address, Shaibu reiterated his commitment to serving the people of Edo State and working towards improving governance and democratic principles in Nigeria.
Philip Shaibu’s legal battle began after his impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly, a move that was met with widespread criticism and legal challenges.
He said, “My fight to be reinstated is for all the people occupying the office in the country. The office has been ridiculed since the return of democracy in 1999.
“I will continue to fight to make sure that sanity and respect are brought back to that office. All I am doing is not to earn anything but to make sure that the sanity of the office of the deputy governor is restored in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“What other deputy governors cannot fight against, I will fight on their behalf so that governors will start respecting that office.”
On his victory in the court, he said, “I challenged God, and I told Him that I want him to prove His power in my life, that people that are anti-God and anti-democracy are at it again, and they want to use me as a scapegoat, I told God to show to the world that I am truly his son.
“They said they will impeach me, and I will go to court and that by the time judgment will come, the tenure will have been over, I now challenged God to prove to them that they have touched His anointed and that the judgment will come faster, more than expected. I said I will need the judgment to come before the election.
“By the grace of God, democracy has come to stay, and we that fought for democracy will protect it; anti-democratic forces must be flushed out, and we will succeed.”
Shaibu also urged the youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used but should vote in the election to remove “anti-democratic people”.
He added, “This election is the time to change anti-democratic forces, and you must do it through the ballot. Don’t engage in violence, and I have been preaching this for the past year when the intimidation and harassment against me started.”
Politics
Obi Urges Nigerian Graduates to Seek Opportunities Overseas if Needed, Vows to Fix Nigeria for Their Return
Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, has encouraged Nigerian students to seek better opportunities abroad if local conditions don’t meet their needs.
Obi shared this advice during his visit to Anambra State, where he made donations to Peter University in Achina/Onneh and the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu. Addressing nursing students, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting institutions that nurture skills, professionalism, and character.
Obi advised students that, if career opportunities are limited locally, they should feel free to explore options abroad.
“If things aren’t working here, go where they will work for you,” he said, expressing optimism that, with efforts to improve the country, Nigerians working abroad would eventually return.
Speaking at Peter University, Obi urged students to dedicate themselves to their studies, highlighting education as a transformative force essential for national development.
Emphasizing that investment in education is an investment in the future, he encouraged them to aim for excellence, assuring that a stronger Nigeria would await them.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State at the weekend played host to the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area(LGA).
Speaker of the House of Assembly Emmanuel Emeruwa, some aides of the governor, and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement were present.
Although Kwankwaso said he was in the state to condole with Otti on the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first governor of old Abia State, rumours of a possible political alliance between him and Otti, the only Labour Party(LP) governor in the country, spread.
Onu was buried in Uburu, his hometown in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State on Friday.
Kwankwaso’s visit coincided with a reception held by the governor for 15 Abia indigenes who recently graduated from the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano.
Shortly after he departed the state, political analysts said they were sure that the visit was partly informed by efforts of the Peter Obi-led LP faction to align with other opposition parties ahead of 2027.
‘’Don’t forget that 2027 is near. Do you think the two men would meet like they did now with talking about the next presidential election? That is impossible,’’ one of them told The Nation.
Another said Kwankwaso and Otti were ‘’very much aware that the only way to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progress Congress (APC) from the centre is a formidable alliance.
‘’They know that now is the best time to start talking about how to defeat those in Aso Rock. And that, I believe is the core reason for the visit.”
Last month’s local government poll in the state produced a stunning result with candidates loyal to Otti winning nearly all the chairmanship positions on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP)
The governor backed the winners because of court cases on the authentic leadership of the leadership of the LP.
One faction of the party is led by Julius Abure while the other supported by Obi and Otti is headed by Nenadi Usman, a former Finance minister.
Political analysts argued that if Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Obi, and Kwankwaso fail to put their political differences behind and field an acceptable presidential candidate in 2027, they might end up not making a significant impact.
Otti had while welcoming Kwankwaso recalled how he offered him a ‘’platform in May 2022 to run ’’ as a governorship candidate.
He thanked Kwankwaso for his guidance and patriotism.
His words: “Thank you for your guidance, for your patriotism, for everything that you have done for this country.
“I want to thank you for encouraging me in 2022 not to lose faith, though we were in different parties, and it appeared as if everything was going to be lost.
“That call that you made about the 20th of May 2022, for also making your platform available for me to run if I had wanted to use the platform, the rest is now history.”
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, congratulated Otti on his emergence as governor. He also lauded his achievements in the state
“For the little time I have been here, I have had the opportunity of talking to a few people who confirmed to me that you are doing very well. We have seen your project everywhere” he said.
The governor and his visitor urged the new Police officers to work hard, contribute to the security of the country, and be good ambassadors of the state.
“The challenge is for you to now work very hard, knowing fully well that in this society, the son of a nobody can be the father of somebody,” said Otti.
“If people like us who grew up here without any hope at that time can be here, there is no reason why you can’t get here. But I am challenging you to be the best you can be.
“Always do things right and do the right things. You can always get to where you are headed. Cutting corners does not take you too far, “ the governor added.
Kwankwaso charged the new police officers to be professional in the discharge of their duties.
“Let me take this opportunity, based on my experience, to advise you to first and foremost fear God.
“Two, you need to be professionals. Now you are fresh, just coming out of the prestigious institute.stay there as professionals,” he said.
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