Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Edo State, Dr.Isaiah Osifo, has described the impeachment notice on the deputy governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu as an abuse of power and privilege.
Osifo, a former council chairman, in a terse statement, said members of the state House of Assembly have brought disrepute on themselves for embarking on this mission.
His words: “Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday ,6 March ,2024 moved a motion and issued a notice of impeachment on the deputy governor of Edo State, Hon.Philip Shuaibu.This course of action by the members of Edo State House of Assembly is quite simply an abuse of office and privilege.
“The members of the State House of Assembly were elected to defend the Constitution of Nigeria, protect the laws of the State and to also represent the interest of their Constituencies.The motion for the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Edo State does not fall into any of the categories stated above.
“Abuse of office and the privileges that are associated with elected and appointed political office holders is a common feature that has frustrated the entrenchment of democratic norms in Nigeria.
“It has become an acceptable dereliction for political office holders to abandon their Constitutional mandate and instead pursue an agenda of personal aggrandizement .In democratic and civilized nations, political office holders subordinate their personal interest to Constitutional demands.
“The members of Edo State House of Assembly have brought disrepute on themselves for making the house available to support this odious agenda. Surely this set of events will not advance the cause of democracy in the jurisdiction.
“Indeed, democracy in Edo state is under a vicious siege and Governor Obaseki is providing the guillotine for its mindless beheading. The only protocols now accepted, are those which serve the ever enlarging ego of a governor on the rampage .
“Majority of the members of the Edo State House of Assembly are people of conscience and are not part of this political menace. However, the good nature of these members has been subverted by the overwhelming imperative of bread and butter politics and the need to survive,” he said.
