Catholic Groups Ask Edo Lawmakers to stop Shaibu’s Impeachment

Seven Catholic organizations, on Tuesday, jointly urged the Edo State House of Assembly to abandon its impeachment efforts against the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu. The move by the Assembly to impeach Shaibu, which commenced last Wednesday, accuses him of perjury and leaking government secrets. This action marks the latest escalation in the ongoing tension between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The strained relationship between the deputy governor and the governor surfaced last year when Shaibu announced his intention to contest in this year’s Edo governorship race. Since then, there has been a palpable unease between the two. Despite this, on Monday, the Assembly directed that the impeachment notice be published in national dailies, signaling its intention to proceed with the process.

Among the Catholic groups signatories to the joint letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, were Catholic Action Nigeria, Catholic Lawyers, Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria, Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, Catholic Girls Organisation of Nigeria, and Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria. Steve Apologun, representing the groups as the Benin Provincial president of the Catholic Men Organisation, presented the letter to Agbebaku and stressed the importance of maintaining peace in the state, especially in the run-up to the September 21 governorship election. While acknowledging the legislative duties of the Assembly members, the Catholic organizations appealed for restraint, urging them not to allow their actions to be perceived as a politically motivated vendetta against the deputy governor.