EHICHIOYA EZOMON 
The faceoff between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, recalls a popular meme – “If men were God” – adopted by a transport company plying many routes across Nigeria. The phrase was left hanging without supplying what would happen were men to be God! But trust Nigerians! They filled the void with a stream of alternatives, thus: If men were God, “humans will have one eye, one nostril, one ear, one hand, one leg, no fingers, no toes, no teeth, no stomach, and no private parts. And wait for this: The “men-God” will limit, ration or seize air completely for any infractions! Welcome to Edo State where Governor Obaseki straddles the “Heart Beat of The Nation” and strikes fears in cowered residents. Lately in a litany of actions, Obaseki’s cut communications with, and barred Shaibu from accessing him – hiding behind security details’ duty to choose who to allow access to the governor. Fair enough! On September 18, Shaibu was left stranded at the outer fencing of the Government House, Benin City.
He’s heard, in a viral video, telling someone on the phone that: “Up till now, I don’t have any official communication (about his new office). It’s the civil servants that have official communication. As I’m speaking to you now, I’m standing by the gate” (of the Government House). Shaibu’s ordeal stems from his “expulsion” from the Osadebey Avenue seat of Government, for “aspiring to be Governor” in 2024, and daring to take out a writ, to pre-empt Obaseki using the House of Assembly to “impeach” him and scuttle his ambition. So, Obaseki decreed that Shaibu relocate, but kept him floating for weeks before accessing the new office via a memo by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie. The two-para memo: “Relocation of Office Accommodation,” dated September 15, and received on September 19, reads: “I write to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor, has approved the relocation of your office accommodation to No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, G.R.A., Benin City. You are therefore requested to ensure your compliance in line with Mr Governor’s approval, please.”
Obaseki’s daring-dos birthed prior to the 2020 election, which he snatched from the jaws of defeat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was denied a second-term ticket by All Progressives Congress (APC), headed by his acclaimed godfather and predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, now Senator for Edo North. Scaling the poll huddles, Obaseki, backed by Shaibu – a community relative of Oshiomhole – bared his fangs to pay back his “enemies” for risking his re-election and “undermining” his authority as governor. (Pre-the 2020 poll, in which Oshiomhole backed and campaigned for his challenger, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Obaseki told Oshiomhole that: “I’m still Governor of Edo State.”) Once again, Obaseki’s showing he remains the governor, by turning the heat on Shaibu who – already seared, scalded and scorched even as the battle has just begun – has surrendered and “begged for forgiveness.” He told journalists in Benin City on September 21 that: “We have resumed (in the new office). There is no problem with it, the governor has asked us to go there.”
On the nitty-gritty of the parley with newsmen, Shaibu said: “I will use this medium to appeal to Mr. Governor, if there is anything that I don’t know that I have done, please forgive me, so that we can develop our state together. If there is any mistake that I have made as human, is (sic) not an act of maybe wickedness, because I’m not wicked. I have a very clean heart. So Mr Governor, please, if there is anything that you think I have done, I am sorry. I need us to work together to finish well and strong because that is my prayer for you.” As a comic relief, with a touch of religiosity, Shaibu said: “I’m missing my governor really, and I know God will touch the governor’s heart and touch all of us and even those that are trying to be in between. God will touch them to know that I mean well.
Like I always tell people, I am a loyal servant; there is nothing that has changed. I took a personal vow to support the Governor, and you can see my Catholic people are here. Everything about me, if I have a vow with God, there is nothing that will change it.” And hoping for the best, Shaibu added: “And I can only wish that the relationship that we had, in the next few days and weeks, I know will come back. We have just less than how many months, just one year to go. We’ve been the envy of the entire country; it is still possible.” Shaibu’s words can melt a stone, but will they cut ice with Governor Obaseki, who appears to have crossed his mind about the deputy governor he’s accused of betraying and sabotaging him? Shaibu’s pleading for forgiveness may even embolden Obaseki to continue to run roughshod over his opponents.
As Republican State Rep. Daniel Perez of Florida, United States, says about Governor Ron DeSantis’ highhanded governance of Florida: “The problem of wielding the power of government like a hammer is that the people start looking like nails.” Governor Obaseki wielded, and brought down the hammer so often that the list of victims kept growing, starting with Tony Kabaka Adun, whose multi-million naira hotel was bulldozed in February 2020. Barely a year after, the demolition squad uprooted the property of former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu; a House of Reps member, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; and Chief Executive of PADMOZI Sports Marketing, Mr Mike Itemuagbor; while the land for Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s farm estate was revoked. Critics, including Edo APC, accuse Obaseki of vendetta, for “regularly and wilfully demolishing property belonging to perceived opponents, and dissenting or critical voices in the state, in the bid to foist a siege mentality on the citizenry. Obaseki said the structures were “built on government land,” and that, “anybody who violates the law, no matter how highly placed you are in Edo State, you will be dealt with.”
“Businesses cannot thrive when there is anarchy and complete disrespect for the law. For us as a government, whatever we need to do to ensure that there is law and order, will be done,” Obaseki warned. But if Obaseki were acting in the public interest to retrieve “limited” government property at the GRA in Benin City, why not bulldoze other property, starting with his own? Since 2016, Obaseki has also prevented the inauguration of 14 APC House of Assembly members, and caused removal of the Assembly roof to deny access to the 14 lawmakers, allegedly planning to impeach him; hounded Oshiomhole out of Edo, and directed that he seek his (Obaseki’s) permission to visit the state; and reportedly “sponsored” Oshiomhole’s suspension by his ward executive, leading to his sack by the courts as National Chairman of the APC. Deputy Governor Shaibu is next to taste Governor Obaseki’s fury. But sadly, Shaibu acted like the house mouse, to sell Oshiomhole out to Obaseki in the name of “loyalty” and with an eye to the 2024 governorship. That “ambition” appears up in the air, courtesy of Obaseki, who Shaibu helped to salvage his second-term ambition by throwing his “mentor and father,” Oshiomhole, under the bus. Yet, Shaibu’s inalienable right to dream, and aspire to be governor if sanctioned by his political platform and the Edo electorate. Now that he’s shown remorse for whatever indiscretions, Obaseki should “find a place in his heart” to forgive, and allow him to test his aspiration for governor in September 2024!
