● State lawmakers file for stay of execution
Following the reinstatement of Mr. Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo State by a Federal High Court in Abuja, the state government says the incumbent named when Shaibu was removed, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins will remain in office until its appeal is disposed off.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the impeachment of Phillip Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor.
In his judgement returning Shaibu to a seat he was removed from months ago, Justice Omotosho ruled that his impeachment proceedings were politically motivated and did not follow due process.
He said the impeachment violated sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Omotosho ordered the Inspector-General of Police to provide him with needed security to enable him resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said: “Following the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement that faulted the impeachment of the erstwhile deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, the Edo State Government has filed a stay of execution of the judgement.
“Pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgement, the incumbent Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remains and continues to serve as the valid deputy Governor of Edo State.
“He will continue to serve in this capacity and would be recognized as such.
“The government hereby calls on the people of Edo State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”
In the Senate on Wednesday, the upper house of the National Assembly removed Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip.
He was immediately replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno.
Since he voiced an opinion that President Bola Tinubu had been caged, Ndume has come under intense criticism from his fellow party men in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ndume had said Tinubu is not aware that many Nigerians are hungry.
Mr Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, also claimed that President Tinubu has been “caged” in the Presidential Villa and that some forces are preventing well meaning people from physically discussing the truth with him.
The Senate Whip stated this at a briefing with some journalists in his office at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday.
“Mr President (Bola Tinubu) is not in the picture of what is happening outside the Villa. He has been fenced off and caged. So many of us won’t go through the backdoor to engage him.
“Now they have stopped him from talking and he doesn’t have public affairs managers, except that his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who writes press statements,” Mr Ndume said.
He faulted Mr Tinubu’s government on food security and specifically said that the president is not doing anything on the issue.
“Nigerians are getting very, very angry. The government is not doing anything about food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve.
“There is unavailability of food. Food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to the security crisis, it will be severe,” he added.
The senator, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Mr Tinubu, called on the president to adopt proper measures in the fight against food insecurity.
“The president should wake up, it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats.
“He should open his doors and meet those who will tell him the truth. Unfortunately, the people who will tell him the truth won’t struggle to meet him. I am very worried not only for the president himself but myself.”
During Tuesday’s plenary, he co-sponsored a motion to draw the attention of the federal government to the impending food insecurity in the country.
Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has said President Bola Tinubu is not aware that many Nigerians are hungry.
Mr Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, also claimed that President Tinubu has been “caged” in the Presidential Villa and that some forces are preventing well meaning people from physically discussing the truth with him.
The Senate Whip stated this at a briefing with some journalists in his office at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday.
“Mr President (Bola Tinubu) is not in the picture of what is happening outside the Villa. He has been fenced off and caged. So many of us won’t go through the backdoor to engage him.
“Now they have stopped him from talking and he doesn’t have public affairs managers, except that his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who writes press statements,” Mr Ndume said.
He faulted Mr Tinubu’s government on food security and specifically said that the president is not doing anything on the issue.
“Nigerians are getting very, very angry. The government is not doing anything about food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve.
“There is unavailability of food. Food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to the security crisis, it will be severe,” he added.
The senator, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Mr Tinubu, called on the president to adopt proper measures in the fight against food insecurity.
“The president should wake up, it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats.
“He should open his doors and meet those who will tell him the truth. Unfortunately, the people who will tell him the truth won’t struggle to meet him. I am very worried not only for the president himself but myself.”
During Tuesday’s plenary, he co-sponsored a motion to draw the attention of the federal government to the impending food insecurity in the country.
After back and forth on the motion, the Senate urged the federal government to immediately address the matter.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had also said there is an ongoing plan to distribute about 60 trucks of fertiliser to each state through the governors before the weekend to address food insecurity.
Serving senators will also receive two trucks of fertiliser each. In contrast, members of the House of Representatives will receive one each.
Ndume’s removal by the Senate on Wednesday was contained in a letter that was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber during plenary.
The letter which was written by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola also asked him to resign from the party.
The request was put to voice votes by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and loudly affirmed by all the APC senators.
Back in Edo, the State House of Assembly has appealed Omotosho’s judgment . It has also filed for a stay of execution on the judgement pending appeal.
Last April, 18 of the 19 Assemblymen impeached Philip Shaibu following the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the State Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against the former deputy governor.
