Shaibu: CRPP Knocks Obaseki, Edo Assembly Over Impeachment Proceeding

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Edo state, has expressed shock and disbelief that the State House of Assembly still go ahead to carry out what it described as an unpopular move to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

CRPP in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its Dr. Samson Isibor, noted 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 jettison their planned impeachment, they still go ahead with it.

The statement reads in part:
“Most disturbing is the rejection of the Federal High Court Summons delivered to the House of Assembly by the Federal High Court Bailiff who was harassed and chased out by the Assembly security men on the orders of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly.

“It is quite appaling that the law makers that supposed to honor a court summons should behave arrogantly, harassed and chased out a harmless Court Bailiff discharging his cosututonal duty from one of the three arms of government recognized by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

While noting that the issue of the impeachment is not personal, Dr. Isibor noted that what the Assembly members have done is condemnable, adding that those who live in glass house should not throw stones.

“If they believe in justice and fair play, they should gladly honor the court summons and present their allegations against the Deputy Governor in an open court instead of displaying rascality. A clean mind fears no accusation.

“We had earler affirmed the innocence of the Deputy Governor of any accusation leveled against him, rather it was witch-hunting and political victimization of the highest order by Governor Obaseki because his Deputy dared to 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 constitutional right to participate in any election. Obaseki has no power to stop his Deputy to vote or be voted for,” the statement concluded.