The former Governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has told the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, that the APC has no Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) camp to rehabilitate distressed politicians.
Oshiomhole, a former APC National Chairman, said this on Thursday in Benin, the state capital while commenting on the allegation made by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, that Shaibu’s court case against him was a prelude to his defection to the APC, PM News reports.
Oshiomhole urged the deputy governor to respect and be loyal to his boss, adding that his wish is for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony.
Last Friday, SaharaReporters reported that Shaibu had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking protection from possible impeachment and removal from office by his principal, Obaseki.
In the motion of notice filed before the court, Shaibu requested an interlocutory injunction to stop harassment, intimidation, or embarrassment, and to allow him to carry out his duties as the deputy governor, including attending State Executive Council meetings.
The situation between Governor Obaseki and his deputy has reportedly been tense in recent months. According to multiple online reports, the rift began when a video of Shaibu with Obaseki’s predecessor, Oshiomhole, during the National Assembly inauguration in Abuja went viral.
In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on July 28, 2023, and made available to journalists on Thursday, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of the state.
This includes attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In the suit, the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service (also known as Department of State Services), Governor of Edo State, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and Chief Judge of Edo State are listed as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants respectively.
Oshiomhole was quoted as saying, “What I read about somebody going to court to complain about being suspected of being impeached, I don’t know how courts adjudicate over suspicion.
“But let me say this, to say that somebody wants to run to the APC, I want to say APC is not a rehabilitation centre. I can tell you that for free.
“We in APC are satisfied the way we are; we are happy in opposition and we are not about to receive people who are coming because they have lost out. I want to say that there is no IDP camp in APC.
“So my advice is that those who are having challenges should learn how to respect their bosses. I have always advised people that whoever you work with, be loyal.
“Regardless of party divide, it is my wish for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony because the supra party to which we all belong to is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The political parties, even the rate of camping and decamping and re-camping, shows that the only thing that is constant is Nigeria and not the political parties.
“I was here and I was unable to support my deputy to succeed me, but my deputy never took me to court. And if there are people who always profit from crises, they cannot have my support.
“Regardless of what anybody will say, I come from only one of the clans in my local government, it will be nice if only my clan produce the governor but I know that Nigeria doesn’t work that way, there are those sentiments that people think that at this level of our development, the thing should go round.”