The Coalition of Registered Political Parties, Edo State chapter, has urged the state House of Assembly and Governor Godwin Obaseki to abandon the impeachment move against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
The group said this in a statement by the Chairman, Samson Isibor, on Tuesday while responding to the order given by the assembly to the Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, to form a seven-person committee to investigate the accusations of serious misconduct made against Shaibu.
The statement said, “The CRPP was surprised that despite interventions of well-meaning Nigerians including highly respected religious leaders and political leaders, appealing to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly members and leadership to exercise restraint and abandon their planned impeachment of the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, they are unperturbed and still going ahead to carry out their unpopular move to impeach the deputy governor.
“The assembly failed to realise that the case is not a personal issue, Those who live in a glass house must not throw stones. If they believe in justice and fair play, they should gladly honour the court summons and present their allegations against the deputy governor in an open court instead of showing bad behavior. A clean mind fears no accusation.
“We had earlier affirmed the innocence of the deputy governor of any accusation level against him, rather it was witch-hunting and political victimisation of the highest order by Governor Obaseki because his deputy dared come out to exercise his constitutional right to be voted for.
“As we’ve said earlier, nobody has the right to stop anybody from exercising his/her constitutional right to participate in any election, Obaseki has no power to stop his deputy from voting or being voted for.
“Almost eight years now, we have not experienced good governance in Edo State, while infrastructural developments throughout the state are lacking.
“Insecurity is on the high side, herdsmen kidnap daily, cost of living is becoming unbearable and these are issues the governor should be tackling instead of embarking on selfish impeachment move.”
