The immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday, foreclosed the possibility of the embattled deputy governor of the state Comrade Philip Shaibu, joining the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), in the eventuality of the deputy governor being impeached as being speculated.
Oshimhole, who is the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District and a former National Chairman of the APC, stressed that the party would not serve as a rehabilitation centre for those he termed “Internally Disposed Politicians (IDP).”
Oshiomhole, until the 2020 governorship crisis of the APC in Edo State, was the acclaimed godfather to both Governor Godwin Obaseki and his now estranged deputy, Shaibu.
The duo of Obaseki and Shaibu, having been disqualified by the National Working Committee (NWC), under the leadership of Oshimhole, dumped the party and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which banner they won the September 2020 guber election.
In the heat of the crisis, Oshiomhole himself was suspended by his Iyamoh Ward 10 of Etsako West Local Government Area, before he was eventually removed as the National Chairman of the APC.
Speaking to journalists in Benin after a condolence visit to the home of the late Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, Oshiomhole, however, advised political subordinates to be loyal to the bosses, just as he maintained that it would be absurd for the court to adjudicate on suspicion.
The former labour leader made the comments as his response to the current faceoff between Shaibu and his principal, Obaseki, which has led to the former seeking protection from an Abuja Federal High Court to stall the alleged plans by Obaseki to remove him.
He said: “Regardless of the party divide, it is my wish for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony because the supra party to which we all belong is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The political parties even in the rate of ‘recamping’ and decamping show that the only thing that is constant is Nigeria, not the political parties.
“As someone who has had the rare privilege of being the chief steward at Osadebey Avenue (Edo State Government House), it is my wish that this government and even future government regardless of the political platform governed in peace and harmony.
“What I read about somebody going to court if that is what you (journalists) is referring to, to complain about suspicion of being impeached, I don’t know how court adjudicate over suspicions.
“I don’t know about that. Maybe, I am a poor legal student. But let me say this, to say that somebody wants to run for APC, APC is not a rehabilitation centre for politicians.
“We in APC are satisfied with 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. No IDP camp for politicians in APC.
“My advice is that those who are having challenges should learn to respect their bosses.
“Many of you (journalists) will attest to the fact that my deputy was interested in succeeding me, and I didn’t support him, but my deputy didn’t take me to court.
“And if there are people whose sole means is to profit from crisis, such person people cannot get my support.
“It would be nice if ordinarily my clan produces the governor of Edo State but Nigeria doesn’t work that way.
“So, based on the principle of fairness, it should be fair others produce the governor.
“Regardless of the party divide, my wish for Edo is to be governed in peace and harmony”, Oshiomhole maintained.
Caption: Senator Adams Oshiomhole, signing the condolence register of the Late Esogban Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri on Thursday in Benin.
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