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.”