Pioneer Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Isiah Osifo, has said there is no justification for the ongoing conflict between Philip Shaibu and Marvellous Omobayo, both of whom served as deputy governors under former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu served as Obaseki’s deputy but was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly following a fallout with the then-governor. Omobayo was sworn in as his replacement.
While Shaibu later secured a court ruling nullifying his impeachment, he was not reinstated to office until the end of Obaseki’s tenure last year.
Tensions between the two escalated recently at a public event where Shaibu reportedly objected to Omobayo being introduced as a former deputy governor of the state.
Osifo, in a statement released on Wednesday, maintained that both men held the office at different times and should not be at loggerheads.
He said he had watched the embarrassing scenario, adding, “There is no basis for conflict between Philip Shaibu and Marvellous Omobayo, who both served as deputy governor to Godwin Obaseki.
“Marvellous Omobayo was the deputy governor of Edo State. He was nominated by Obaseki as his deputy, and the same for Shaibu.
“The provisions for the nomination of a deputy governor of a state are clearly written in the constitution of Nigeria. Shaibu knows that Omobayo was nominated by the same governor who nominated him as his deputy.
“Why is Phillip Shaibu presenting the issue about Marvellous Omobayo, as former Deputy Governor, as a personal dispute between him and Omobayo Marvellous? There is no basis for such personal conflict.
“I watched on a National Television the embarrassing scenario created from the protest by Shaibu against the introduction of Omobayo as former Deputy Governor of Edo State.
“The protest was uncalled for. Omobayo was never part of the process that removed Shaibu. No protest or jurisprudence will erase the historical fact that Omobayo was, at a time, the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
“Phillip Shaibu has the right to challenge the process that removed him as the Deputy Governor, but should not vent his anger against a gentleman who was only a beneficiary of a decision that was taken by a government that was legally constituted at the time the decision was taken.”
“It is my desire that Shaibu should seek a peaceful relationship with his brother, Omobayo, as they are both from Edo North.”
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