Obaseki to Edo workers: Disregard Shaibu’s directives, he remains impeached

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, declared on Friday that his estranged deputy, Philip Shaibu, remains impeached.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja on July 17 voided Shaibu’s impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly and reinstated him as the state’s deputy governor.

He declared the impeachment as illegal and unconstitutional.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, the state government and the Assembly approached the court for a stay of execution of the judgement.

The judge on September 24 dismissed two separate motions filed by the government and the parliament against the deputy governor’s reinstatement.

Obaseki’s statement came a few hours after Shaibu warned Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to guard against attempts by political appointees to loot government properties in the state.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, the governor told workers in the state to disregard Shaibu’s “infantile ramblings.”

READ ALSO: Shaibu derides Obaseki after election loss, says he couldn’t win his LG

He stressed that Shaibu lacks the power to issue directives to any staff employed by the state government because he remains impeached until the court determines otherwise.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the very ridiculous statement purportedly signed by the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, in which he warned Permanent Secretaries and Heads of MDAs to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees.

“We want to restate that Philip Shaibu remains impeached as the Deputy Governor of Edo State until the court’s determination and therefore lacks the power and authority to issue directives or warnings to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of MDAs, or any staff employed by the Edo State Government.

“We urge all Edo workers to disregard the infantile ramblings of the impeached deputy governor and continue with their lawful duties without fear of intimidation or harassment while ensuring the delivery of quality and effective service to the people of Edo State.”

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