The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Jaret Tenebe, on Wednesday, visited the impeached deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in his Abuja residence.
Tenebe described Shaibu’s impeachment as a sham and urged him to use all legal means to overturn his removal.
He said, “I am here to pay you this solidarity visit because I still regard you as the deputy governor of Edo State. That sham they did in the state House of Assembly is a disgrace to the governor and it is an aberration to our democracy, which I know that the court will not allow it to stand.
“You are somebody who stood out and paid the price of loyalty. You were loyal even to the detriment of the people you started with, you paid that price.
”Today, they have removed you as the deputy governor, but we still regard you as the deputy governor. You have paid the price to ensure that Obaseki and his likes are rooted out of the state. I can tell you that we will not allow you to walk alone, we are with you.”
Describing Shaibu as a strong man, Tenebe said, “I am here as the Chairman of APC in Edo State to implore you to continue to pursue this matter in court. We will be with you all through and God is your strength.
“When one door is closed, many more are opened and many are opened for you from today. That is what the detractors don’t know, be strong and we will march on together.”
Shaibu was removed as deputy governor of Edo State on Monday and Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed 38-year-old Marvellous Omobayo as his replacement.
Tenebe’s visit to Shaibu came barely 24 hours after some APC faithful in the Etsako West Local Government Area protested against a planned return of Shaibu to the APC.
In his remarks, Shaibu told Tenebe: “My removal by the Edo State House of Assembly will not stand the test of time. I was impeached because of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
“Chairman, we have shared a lot of things, both good and bad. I am deeply humbled and happy that even this situation has brought us together as one that we are. You are one person that I have always admired, someone that I grew up with.
The person that separated us has also united us and that is the beauty of what has happened. I want to assure you as we move on, just like you said this whole thing happened between the lent and Ramadan, the lessons are obvious. I am not ready to change my attitude; I am ready to be a friend and loyal friend and partner.
“What has happened will not change my quest to be loyal to anybody that I will work with. I was a loyal person and I am still loyal, the price of loyalty is success and the impeachment that has happened. It is clear that God wants to open a new chapter.
My chairman, I call you my chairman because you are already my chairman and I think you are also one of the reasons why they hurriedly did what they did because they know what it takes for you and me to be together. They thought they could use impeachment to get me to succumb, but you know that I won’t succumb.
“I am somebody that is strong-willed and when I mean something, I mean it. When I look at the whole thing, I am paying the price for my strong will. I also believe that it is only the man that God impeaches that is impeached and, by the grace of God, I know the judiciary will do the needful.
“I want to assure you of my cooperation and my loyalty will remain my weapon. I will be there at all times. I think our next target is September 21 and by the grace of God, we will get there.”
