Tag: Shaibu

Immediate past Edo Deputy Governor Philp Shuaibu has assured Nigerians of a better future under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asserting that he has the capacity and ability to fix Nigeria.

He dismissed the opposition coalition as lacking what it takes to unseat the President come 2027.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) spoke on Saturday when he was hosted by the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) in Abuja, to intimate members of the group of the achievements of the administration in the last two years.

He noted that those coalescing against the President are being frustrated as they have lost grip of further plundering of the fortune of the country, hence their coming together, which he said would fail and fall before the next general elections.

According to him: “Nigeria was shaky and sinking . Those in coalition destroyed the country such that its foundation was already shaken. But, here we have a man (Tinubu) that is putting everything together to strengthen the country and putting it back on track, but the coalition is not happy that President Tinubu is fixing the shaky foundation, hence the attack on him.

“Asiwaju is helping us to build a future that we all can be proud to retire to. Those ganging up know this, but they are just adamant to pull him down. We are not going to allow those who destroy the country to come back to the office.

“Today, Nigeria is in safe hands. Asiwaju has what it takes to fix the country. He did it in Lagos state, and just in two years, he has changed the narrative and put the country back on track.”

Shuabiu cited the recent commendation of the state of the country’s economy by global critical stakeholders, such as the Workd Bank, World Trade Organisation ( WTO), and others.

“You will recall the head of the  World Trade Organisation (WTO), Okonjo Iwela recently commented on the state of our economy. You know the integrity of Iwela. The World Bank and others are making their statements on the stability of our economy. They commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stabilizing the economy.”

He tasked all support groups of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to embark on massive education of the masses on the “steady and impressive progress” being made under Tinubu in the last 2 years.

“I am calling on members of all support groups and especially, the TSG to go out and educate our people, especially those in the rural areas of what Mr. President has done, and he is still doing. Look at our foreign reserve that wad deflected before he came on board. Look at how our economy is bouncing back.”

“Now it is the duty of the support groups to launch out and preach the gospel according to what President Tinubu has done in the last 2 years. We can not and we should not keep queit. If there will be any coalition at all, it should be for the re-election of Asiwaju come 2027. He has what it takes to fix the country.

The former Deputy Governor commended the leadership of TSG for the initiative of engaging political appointees to brief members of the support groups on what the administration is doing in our various sectors.

The Director-General of TSG,  Dr. Umar Tanko Yakassi said the group has perfected plans to engage all appointees, with a view for them to debrief members of the group on the achievements of government for onward dissemination to the people, especially those at the grassroots. 

There was a mild drama in Benin-city, Edo State capital, yesterday, following the attempt by the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, to resume office.

Although his attempt to enter into the office was thwarted by security agencies, he nevertheless, claimed to be performing his statutory duties.

Shaibu, who was accompanied by some personal aides, inspected the five-star Radisson Hotel in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) being constructed by the state government.

Governor Godwin Obaseki  in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie,  warned the deputy governor against the violation of the law.

Shaibu,  who was impeached, was replaced by Omobayo Godwin. However, he was reinstated by the court. The order is yet to be vacated by a higher court.

Obaseki, who was out of town, advised Shaibu not to disrupt governance, adding that he should  subject himself to the law at all times.

He said: “Shaibu, just like any private citizen, can take a tour around the exceptional projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki. We warn, however, that both Shaibu and the security agencies should not carry out actions that violate the laws and the constitution.

“Shaibu should be patient and wait for the Appeal Court to hear his matter. He needs to learn to subject himself to authority of the law.”

The governor enjoined the people to go about their lawful businesses, assuring that government will protect life and property.

Read Also: Money laundering charges against Bobrisky legally dropped – EFCC

Security operatives, including policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) officials, and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were on standby from 8 a.m. at the main gate of Government House, Benin, to maintain peace.

Many Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were also deployed to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, said in a statement that his boss was a man of peace who believed in the rule of law.

He  said: “Our attention has been drawn to the effect that Edo State Deputy Governor,  His Excellency,  Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, is making plans to invade the Government House in a bid to enforce two different court judgements, ordering his reinstatement.”

The reinstated deputy governor of Edo state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, conducted an inspection of the five-star Radisson Hotel under construction in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, on Sunday.

This inspection was part of his agenda despite objections from Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.

Shaibu’s visit to the high-profile hotel followed a tense standoff where security personnel prevented him from entering the government House in GRA, locking the gates for several hours.

Motorists had to abandon their vehicles and walk to the expansive complex.

In response to the situation, Obaseki’s special adviser on media projects, Crusoe Osagie, issued a statement cautioning the reinstated deputy governor against any actions that could violate existing laws.

Osagie emphasised the importance of maintaining the governance process and urged Shaibu to comply with legal protocols at all times.

He said: “Shaibu, just like any private citizen, can take a tour around the exceptional projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki. We warn, however, that both Shaibu and the security agencies should not carry out actions that violate the laws and the constitution.

“Shaibu should be patient and wait for the Appeal Court to hear his matter. He needs to learn to subject himself to the authority of the law.”

Obaseki’s media aide also enjoined the good people of Edo to go about their lawful businesses, while urging them to rest assured that the state government would always ensure the protection of lives and property, in line with extant laws in Edo.

Numerous security operatives, including policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) officials, and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, were on standby from 8 a.m. yesterday at the main gate of Government House, Benin, with many Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) also deployed, to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Edo deputy governor’s chief press secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the effect that Edo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is making plans to invade the Government House on Monday, September 30, 2024, in a bid to enforce two different court judgements, ordering his reinstatement.

“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood, for whatever reason.

“As it is today, in the eyes of the law and the eyes of the good people of Edo State, indeed, Nigerians, Philip Shaibu is the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State.  We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us.

“Obaseki and his co-travellers should accept the fact that the good people of Edo State have spoken, and his godson, Asue Ighodalo, has been roundly rejected at the governorship election of September 21, 2024. Sadly, this reality is yet to dawn on them.

“Crusoe Osagie, the purveyor of the fake news, is well known as an alarmist and propagandist who thrives on rumours and beer parlour gossip, with little or no respect for the ethics of our cherished profession, Journalism. So, he has to be ignored.”

Osagie, on Sunday, accused Shaibu, of planning to invade with thugs on September 30, 2024 (yesterday), the Government House in Benin.

Obaseki’s media aide alleged that the planned invasion by Shaibu, a former member of the House of Representatives, who is an ex-Majority Leader of Edo House of Assembly, and a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), when he was an undergraduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau State, was to enforce his reinstatement, despite the fact that a stay of execution appeal had been filed, challenging Justice James Omotosho’s judgment.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his “devious” plot, which he described as a clear recipe for chaos.

Edo governor’s special adviser on media projects said: “We want to draw the attention of the IGP to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J.K. Omotosho.

“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal, and we appeal to the IGP to ensure that the state does not descend to anarchy, because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer (Inspector Onuh Akoh of No. 45, Police Mobile Force, Abuja). We believe that is one death too many, and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such.

Read Also: BREAKING: Security beef in Edo Government House over likelihood of Shaibu’s resumption

“Edo State government’s lawyers have written to the IGP and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact that all actions relating to the Enforcement and/or execution of the judgment of Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 be stayed, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for stay of execution/injunction pending appeal, so as not to foist a situation of helplessness on the Court of Appeal and render the order nugatory in the case that the application is granted.”

Osagie also stated that the appeal case raised special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds, in respect of which the court ought to grant the application, to ensure that the plaintiff/respondent (Shaibu) would do nothing to cause a breach of the peace or breakdown of law and order in Benin and other parts of the state.

It will be recalled that Akoh was murdered through gunshots on July 18, 2024, at the exit gate of Benin Airport, and he was attached to the then governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, now Governor-elect, who arrived from Abuja, in company with Shaibu, who got favourable judgment the previous day, at the FHC, Abuja.

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has taunted the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, over the outcome of the recently concluded gubernatorial election in the state.

Shaibu claimed he felt vindicated after Obaseki was unable to win his local government area for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that he has no ill will against the outgoing governor.

Shaibu said this in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.

The deputy governor pointed out that Obaseki had never won an election by himself, adding that he had been instrumental in achieving the successes he had so far recorded.

Read Also: Barau: APC’s victory in Edo, a vote of confidence on President Tinubu

He declared that he was vindicated against those who said he couldn’t win the election by the All Progressives Congress’s triumph.

“I feel vindicated; even the governor couldn’t win his local government. I won my unit, ward, and local government. Where are the governor’s results? He has never won; we always assisted him,” he stated.

He also urged Obaseki to apologise to the people of the state.

He said: “What is left now is for him to go back and start begging and apologizing to the people of Edo State and he has a lot of them that he needs to go and apologize to.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

The court took the action after the appellant applied to withdraw the appeal.

The appeal was against a ruling in a fundamental rights suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu, who the court recently reinstated.

Shaibu had filed the fundamental rights suit before he was impeached by the Edo State Assembly

At the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, appellant’s lawyer, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), informed the court about his client’s decision to withdraw the appeal.

Read Also: Shaibu: Why Appeal Court dismissed Edo Assembly’s appeal

Jolaawo said the withdrawal became necessary because his client had another pending appeal (against the trial court’s final judgment in the case).

He said: “We have filed a notice of withdrawal of the appeal since we have another appeal before the court, which will take care of the instant situation.”

Lawyers to other parties in the appeal did not object to the appellant’s application to withdraw it.

Ruling, Justice Hamma Barka averred that in the absence of any objection, the appeal was dismissed.

Other members of the panel – Justices Usman Musale and Okon Abang – agreed with the ruling.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, August 20, dismissed an appeal by the Edo State House of Assembly because the appellant applied to withdraw it.

Marked: CA/ABJ/CV/645/2024, it was against a ruling in a fundamental rights suit numbered:  FHC/ABJ/CS/405/2024 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the reinstated impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu.

Shaibu had filed the fundamental rights suit before he was impeached by the Edo Assembly

At the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, appellant’s lawyer, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN) informed the court about his client’s decision to withdraw the appeal.

Read Also: Shaibu urges Obaseki to obey Appeal Court judgment

Jolaawo said the withdrawal became necessary because his client has another pending appeal (which is against the trial court’s final judgment in the case).

He said: “We have filed a notice of withdrawal of the appeal since we have another appeal before the court which will take care of the instant situation.”

Lawyers to other parties in the appeal did not object to the appellant’s application to withdraw.

Ruling, Justice Hamma Barka said, in the absence of any objection, the appeal is dismissed.

Other members of the panel – Justices Usman Musale and Okon Abang – agreed with the ruling.