OPINION
Shuaibu/Obaseki faceoff, Is This Karma or happenstance?
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
I have been watching the turn of events since the push and pull between Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo state, and Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo state started; From the beginning, I knew it will end in the way it is ending now, but I pray it shouldn't degenerate beyond what it currently is.
Before you support or condemn my opinion, please, hear me out.
On the 19th of June, 2019, a midnight inauguration of Edo state House of Assembly, EDHA, members-elect was conducted, where five willing members and four unwilling members were 'bundled' into the hallow Chambers and were said to be inaugurated, or initiated by Yahaya Omogbai, the Clerk of the House, and a Speaker, Hon. Frank Okiye emerged, thereby, effectively scheming out fifteen Members-elect.
At that time, Governor Godwin Obaseki was said to have traveled to the United Kingdom, and his then Deputy, Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, was in charge of affairs.
If I may ask, what role did the Deputy Governor, Hon. Phillip Shuaibu play in that arrangement? I leave the answer to all us to answer.
The following day, the 20th of June 2019, I was unfortunately privileged to witness the way hundreds of thugs stormed the Golden Tulips Hotel, Benin, where 15 Edo state House of Assembly, EDHA, members-elect,
that were schemed out of the midnight inauguration, held a Press conference to inform the world about their plight.
Also present in that Press briefing, are Honourables
Nosayaba Okunbor, Eric Okaka, and Uyi, that were forced to join in the infamous midnight inauguration the previous day; they backed out to join the 14 that were schemed out, even though, Nosayaba later backpedalled.
On that fateful day, those thugs actually came for Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, the arrow head of the Members-elect, and they made it very clear.
Those thugs got hold of Edoror and Hon. Seid Oshiomhole and beat them black and blue. They also beat up one of Edoror's aide, perhaps assuming him to be one of the Members elect... Hmmmmm... Those thugs were led to the scene by the then Chief Security Officer, CSO, at the government House........
In the midst of all these chaos, the fifteen Members-elect fled from Edo State for their dear life.
At that time, the going was good between Shuaibu and Obaseki. Did Phillip Shuaibu play any role in the pains that those members elect suffered? Again, I leave the answer for all of us to answer.
Wait a minute, just as thugs were sent after those EDHA members elect, so also some thugs recently attacked Phillip Shuaibu at the airport in Benin, and unfortunately, an Inspector of Police lost his life in the incident. Hmmmmm... Interesting 🤨
Those EDHA members that were schemed out of the so called inauguration, in 2019, were never allowed to represent their constituencies for a full term of 4 years, they approached the judiciary a number of times, to seek redress, just as Shuaibu is doing today, but all na story.
Today, the Court has reinstated Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, but the wranglings is still ongoing. I wish he could return to Osadebey Avenue to continue his duties as the Deputy Governor, especially as he has appointed his aides. Hmmmmmm.
I gathered the case is still ongoing, and has been adjourned to September, after the 2024 Edo Guber?🤔 You see what I mean? We are however, all waiting to see how the court case regarding the reinstatement of Shuaibu will end.
Those that followed the trend of event at that time, saw how a parallel House of Assembly operated in Edo State. Today, are we having two Deputy governors in Edo State, just like we had two Houses of Assembly at that time? I hope history is not repeating itself?
The long and short of this write-up, is to remind all of us that, every of our actions, good or bad, has an equal and opposite reactions. Whatever you do to your fellow human being, you must expect same in return.
It appears a number of those that celebrated all the illegalities, all those that hailed Obaseki and Shuaibu and urged them on at that time, including Frank Okiye, Adaze Emwanta, Charles Idahosa, Kebiru Adjoto, Ephraim Aluebhosele and a host of others, have taken a u-turn from Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and found a new home in either the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Labour Party, LP.
Now that Phillip Shuaibu is back to APC, I hope APC members and leadership can now trust him?........
For all those that are in positions of authorities today, that are seeing themselves as some kind of gods, I hope they learnt some lessons from this short, but rather eventful history? Otherwise, they should be reminded that there are three days in this world.... YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW.
My people perish for lack of knowledge, so says the word of God. May God grant us knowledge and in addition, wisdom an understanding.
I hail all of una ooo