The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday, lashed at the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki for accusing him of impersonation and forgery.
Following the news of Shaibu resuming office as deputy governor, the Edo State government had accused him of impersonation, arguing that the court judgment, which reinstated him had been appealed and a stay of execution obtained.
The state government accused Shaibu of trying to destabilise the government and cause chaos.
In a statement on Tuesday, Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, knocked the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, over the impersonation claim.
Ebomhiana said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, describing the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, as ‘an impostor.’
“To say the least, the statement, in its entirety, is an affront to the judiciary, and a clear violation of a valid court order of 17 July 2024, as delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the FCT Federal High Court.
“We also view it as an insult to the people of Edo State who overwhelmingly voted for the Godwin Obaseki/Philip Shaibu joint ticket in the governorship election of September 2020. It’s a known fact that the Edo people never voted for Marvellous Omobayo as their deputy governor.
“It is also a known fact that in the eyes of the law, Omobayo is only a political appointee of Governor Godwin Obaseki who imposed him on the people of Edo State.
“So, Nehikhare should know, except if he wants to be mischievous, Omobayo is the impostor who should stop parading himself as the Edo State deputy governor because he was never voted for”.
The statement added that filing a stay of execution on a declarative judgment of a competent court of law did not vitiate the execution of the judgment.
“Both parties must obey the judgment, pending the determination of the stay of execution by the same court.
“However, we are not surprised by this brazen display of executive lawlessness and rascality by the Edo State government. If the head is rotten, then what does one expect of the body itself?
“Obaseki is one governor who is well known for his disdain for the judiciary and flagrant disrespect for judicial pronouncements.
“Erroneously, he also believes that every man has a price. He was said to have boasted several times at various quarters that Omobayo remains his deputy governor until he serves out his term as Edo State governor.
“Unfortunately, Governor Godwin Obaseki has behaved as if he is a law unto himself, especially since the 17 July court judgment which reinstated Comrade Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo State after his purported impeachment by the state House of Assembly in April 2024”, the statement concluded.
