Shaibu: I’d happily hand over to Okpebholo if Obaseki shuns swearing-in

Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo, says he is ready to hand over the reins of power to the new government after the inauguration.

Monday Okpebholo will be sworn in as governor of Edo in Benin City on Tuesday.

Last weekend, Okpebholo’s team said Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, is sabotaging a peaceful transfer of power.

Godspower Inegbe, media aide to Okpebholo, said Obaseki has deployed every tool in his arsenal to frustrate the handover.

Inegbe said Obaseki has neither called to congratulate the governor-elect nor taken Okpebholo on a tour of the government house.

Obaseki had said he has not been invited to Okpebholo’s swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Shaibu said he would hand over the appropriate documents whether Obaseki makes himself available or not.

He said on Monday, he took Dennis Idahosa, the deputy governor-elect, on a tour of the government house.

“I’m so excited and happy. I am in a hurry to go and hand over to the governor and deputy governor,” Shaibu said.

“The office of the governor is one, so if the governor is not present, the deputy governor would handle it. But whether he (Obaseki) is there or not, I’m ready to hand over to the deputy governor-elect.

“Immediately after the swearing-in, we will go to the office and hand over. All the documents are ready. We were in the office yesterday to show him round.”

The outgoing deputy governor said he has not seen Obaseki in the last four days.

He added that there has been no communication between them since the fall out.

“All through when I was in the office yesterday, he was not at the government house, and the last time I saw him was four days ago. I haven’t had communication with him, though he doesn’t communicate with me,” he said.

“It’s very unfortunate. This is the first time a governor and his deputy will have to part without talking to each other.”

Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over political differences since the turn of the year.

On April 8, the Edo state house of assembly impeached Shaibu as deputy governor of the state.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-member investigative panel.

Three months later, a federal high court in Abuja nullified the removal and reinstated Shaibu as deputy governor.

In July, Shaibu officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and campaigned alongside Okpebholo to defeat Asue Ighodalo — Obaseki’s handpicked candidate.