A Press Release by the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP)
On Tuesday 28th October, 2025, His Excellency Philip Shaibu, former Deputy Governor impeached on 8th April, 2024, and His Excellency, High Chief Marvellous Godwins Omobayo, who was appointed and sworn in on the same day as Shaibu’s successor, clashed in the 4th Conference of Former Deputy Governors’ Forum held in Abuja.
No sooner Engr Marvellous Omobayo was mentioned and duly recognised as a former Deputy Governor at the conference than his impeached predecessor stood up to challenge his recognition, asserting like a court judge that ‘the guy [referring to Omobayo] was never a Deputy Governor,’ that he got a High Court judgment nullifying his impeachment. His Excellency Marvellous Omobayo instantly stood up to counter him, declaring in strong and loud terms that he was appointed a Deputy Governor, served as a Deputy Governor and the matters arising therefrom are now sub judice in the Appeal Court of Nigeria. Fortunately, very well respected members of the forum were able to still the storm.
Shortly after that altercation between the two ‘brothers’ and hitherto good friends, Edo State Government sent out a press release accusing High Chief Omobayo of illegally withholding some anonymous government property, issuing him a seven-day ultimatum to return government property and vehicles in his custody, property and vehicles not mentioned, a development that invokes a popular proverb of our people, to wit, “the owl cried in the night and something happened to the child at dawn.
Although the State Government insulated the release in the language of avowed commitment to probity and accountability, the coincidence and resemblance of the altercation in Abuja and the press release are too uncanny for any critical mind miss. Comrade Philip Shaibu averred that “the chap or guy [referring to Engr. Omobayo] was never a Deputy Governor…I am the elected Deputy Governor…”, and the Edo State Government release also used the term “former illegitimate Deputy Governor.”
MAAP strongly believes that Comrade Philip Shaibu, who had maintained a very cordial affinity with Engr. Marvellous Omobayo until his removal from office and the appointment of Omobayo to replace him, ought to have allowed restraints, decorum, legality and irreversible socio-political realities to muffle his reactions and passions at the conference until the appeal and supreme courts determine their cases in court. And the socio-political realities and legality are obvious to those who have been tracking the the trajectory of the cases.
First, it is a historical reality that Philip Shaibu was impeached and Omobayo was appointed to replace him, as nature and government does not allow a vacuum, and he served from April 2024 to November 2024. The court in due course will finally determine the legality or otherwise of Shaibu’s impeachment and Omobayo’s appointment.
Second, it is an undeniable reality that Shaibu took the matter to the court where he secured a judgment nullifying his removal from office. Following the judgment, he has been deploying all extra judicial personal socio-political leverages to enforce the judgment to no avail, his reaction at the conference in Abuja is the latest instance, which again fizzled out gratis of the more mature intervention of members and leaders in the conference. Did Shaibu and Omobayo believe that they could resolve the matter through physically harassment and shouting match by any stretch of thinking?
Third, it is also a well known reality and matter of legality that Obaseki’s government sued for a stay of execution against the ruling of the high court in favour of Shaibu pending the determination of the substantive case now at the Court of Appeal. Are Shaibu, Omobayo and the State Government not aware of this legal status quo?
Furthermore, it is also certain that whoever wins at the Appeal Court, the case will or may go to the Supreme Court. So, why should anyone arrogate to himself the authority to deliver judgments and execute them at the same time anywhere and anyhow?
And there are other extra judicial and contextual realities which should have been observed for caution’s sake. The Conference to which both of them were invited was not organized or called by any of them and arguably or unarguably, they should not have started flinging verbal attacks against each other in public when the matter in question is yet sub judice. Naturally, if anyone presses one’s scrotum in public, even one’s father, one may scream and kick.
The release from Edo State Government calls for a sombre reflection on the nature and focus of our politics and governance. MAAP thinks that any society or government bearing the weight of an elephant should remain focussed on conveying the heavy beast home, not getting distracted with hunting for crickets.
We recall that this government set up an Asset Recovering and Verification Committee headed by the likes of Dr Umakhihe and Hon.Taiwo Akerele who submitted a report to the government nearly a year now. We wonder if the report ever indicted Engr. Omobayo. So, why now timing the release with the occurrence in Abuja conference of former Deputy Governors? If it is true, we doubt it, that Omobayo, a self made progressive and humble young maverick politician is withholding some government property, the government should write him officially, listing all the houses, lands, vehicles and government companies and aeroplanes Omobayo has hijacked and instructing him to return them to government, not politicizing it.
We urge all the actors in this case and Edo Government to avoid anything that could heat up the polity to distract Governor OKPEBHOLO’s altruistic focus and set Edo North Senatorial District along sub ethnic divides, because Shaibu and Omobayo are our illustrious sons and so people could begin to interpret this development from the prisms of sub ethnic divides and political vengeance, which will not augur well for our political future. As we say in politics, friends today, enemies tomorrow.
These two deputies started as lovely friends and brothers, something most people may not be aware of. Today, they are flexing their muscles. We predict now, and mark you, they will yet work together tomorrow. Both of them are potential Senators, Ministers, Governors and, perhaps, Presidents. So, Shaibu should ‘coolu, coolu temper,’ and Omobayo should continue to be resilient, respectful and focussed. In the end,
No one can decapitate a head destined for the diadem, and above all, the court should be allowed to run its course.
Signed
Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People 09051494786
