•Passes vote of confidence on Obaseki
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Leaders of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have scolded the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, for approaching the court over allegations that Governor Godwin Obaseki, is about to impeach him without exhausting the dispute resolution mechanisms of the party.
The leaders, who met yesterday in Igueben Local Government Area, were drawn from Edo Central Senatorial District. They include Chairman, Edo State PDP, Tony Aziegbemi; former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tom Ikimi, former Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Clifford Odia; former House of Representatives member representing Esan South East/Esan North East Federal Constituency, Sergius Ogun and former House of Representatives member representing Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Joe Edionwele, among others.
A communiqué issued after the meeting said during the meeting, a vote of confidence in the Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“However, the deteriorating relationship between our Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, was noted with utmost dismay. It is the collective view of the entire leadership of PDP in Edo Central that the controversy was unnecessary and avoidable, considering that the central issue of contention has to do with the issue of Governorship succession at the end of the current tenure.
“The reason for this is our strong belief that the strongest consideration for making the choice is equity in addition to other factors related to competence and individual acceptability. From our interactions with our brothers from Edo South and Edo North, there is already a consensus that the next Governor will emanate from Edo Central Senatorial District principally because it is on record that Edo Central has not legally produced a Governor for our dear State since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999.
“Besides, we believe that the process of making such a choice can be achieved by the leadership of the party in a cordial and reasonable atmosphere rather than resorting to intimidation and blackmail. Moreover, we condemn in very strong terms, the act of resorting to court without exhausting the options provided in our Party Constitution for dispute settlement. In any case, the Governor has confirmed that he has made no move to impeach his deputy and we believe him.”