By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
The Edo State Chapter of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has called on the 7 members of the panel constituted to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu by the state House of Assembly to “jettison the offer.”
In a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and its Secretary, Hon. John Isidhaome, the CRPP said: “The announcement by the Chief Judge of Edo State setting up the impeachment panel to probe the deputy governor, Philip Shuaibu, did not come to us as a surprise based on the fact that he who pays or appoint the piper dictates the tune.”
He said, “Our arguments are very fundamental to the nascent democracy we are operating with the three arms of Government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – each arm is independent of the other.”
“Edo State House of Assembly led by Blessing Agbebaku, rebuffed the judiciary by turning down a court summons sent by a Federal High Court delivered by a High Court bailiff.
“These actions of the Edo State House of Assembly lawmakers, supposed to be viewed seriously as a slight on the judiciary, the same judiciary assented to the request of the State Assembly that the Chief Judge should constitute a panel to probe Philip Shaibu which the Chief Judge quickly assented to.
“We are therefore appealing to the moral instinct of the panel members to turn down their appointments individually or collectively on moral ground, justice and fair play.
“More so, the Deputy Governor has served Obaseki, the House of Assembly originating summons by a court of competent jurisdiction. We believe it should not be floated. A case in point is that of Ondo State where the Chief Judges on two different occasions stood their ground and refused to do the biddings of the power that be and that of the State Assembly.
“The Chief Judge of Edo State should emulate those two Chief Judges of Ondo State. We advise the Governor to heed the appeal of well-meaning Nigerians to discontinue his decision to impeach his deputy.
“More so that he has a few months to leave the office as a Governor, power is transient, it is not permanent. He should remember tomorrow”, they concluded.
