By Williams Smith, writing from Benin
This is not fiction; it is real; the position right now is that the Rt. Hon. Comrade Phillip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State is on the slaughter slab: his most trusted friend and boss, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the seemingly innocuous Governor of the State is the architect behind this rather unusual and harsh step. Incredibly, it would have been unthinkable, only a few months back for Obaseki, whom Phillip had sacrificed so much for, to be the brain behind this sudden predicament. To some, this may not be a strange development; but if the import of this unexpected move is anything to go by, it is sheer wickedness—a typical example of man’s inhumanity to man! let us spell it out clearly: Obaseki is mean.
He would later realize that his party, the PDP, is the biggest loser if this fight drags on. Why would he impose someone on the state? If he has the powers to do so, then, anyone including Shaibu has the right to stick his neck out. Asue Ighodalo circulates in the big circle; he is well known in Marina, Broad Street, Lagos, and even Aso Rock, but certainly not in his village. He is a friend of Obaseki, because, they belong to the same group—Ivy League. Shaibu is not so inexperienced to throw his hat in the ring; Obaseki must have whispered some encouraging words to him in the past. True, Shaibu acted unwisely, but Obaseki has been too bossy. Impeachment should have been the last thing in his pungent mind! Whatever happened to all the talk of settlement as a “family affair?” Is there something sinister about him? Trying to impose someone out of the blue on the state may be the best exit strategy for him, but not the people.
If Oshiomole had done that to him as an Economic Adviser, what would have been his reaction? Yet, Shaibu, should have been more tactical in his approach. At just 52, he could have waited for an Ishan man to take his turn; he would only be 59 or 60 in the next 8 years, so why hurry? A few months back, he rushed Obaseki to court sensing he was about to be impeached. And now, the same Courts have turned down his fresh move to stall the same impeachment! it is not known if Obaseki tricked him into withdrawing the case, but whatever it is, he ought to be more circumspect; not many people would ever have the opportunity to become deputy governor in their lifetime; remaining sacrosanct should be his priority for now. This is why people ask what is his pedigree. Wike asked who was his father. And those challenging him for opposing Obaseki’s choice also questioned if he ever “owned a laptop!” This means that few people regard him as having the material or clout to be governor!
Had he been patient, nothing prevented him from becoming a senator for another 8 years. There are lots of positions he could have been nominated for—even as a possible minister! He ought to have consulted widely before jumping into the fray. However, for now, both men should exercise restraint for the sake of humanity. Don’t forget that Oshiomole is waiting in the wings ready to spring a surprise; It can’t all be a smooth ride all the time. Obaseki is so fixated on revenge, that many believe he has some hidden character trait which Oshiomole noticed. Obaseki would go ahead to quarrel with the powerhouse that gave him rare support before he secured the party’s ticket, he also discarded, at least, from our own side, everyone that supported him gleefully. He cleverly used the nebulous “stomach infrastructure” claim, to weed out those he called “treasury choppers” while he made good for himself, leaving them to lick poverty and hunger. Nothing could be worse than being sidelined when you are supposed to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Some people have argued that those who ride on the back of a tiger stand to be devoured by the same tiger, the question is Obaseki is not a tiger! He is a human being with a cold and calculating heart. If Shaibu is about to be devoured, it may be because of karma for insulting his former boss, comrade Adams Oshiomole on national television! Nature cannot be bribed. As a human, he also made other mistakes; one of them was abandoning those who regarded him as a “friend”. But this is a story for another day. Going forward, impeachment should not be the last option on the table for both men; for what does it profit Obaseki to destroy Shaibu’s career in such a ruthless manner? To use his alleged leakages of “government secrets” as an excuse to nail his career does not hold water. The point is we practice too much crude politics in Nigeria. At one point when it suits them, they say it is “homegrown” politics; at another point, they call it “insubordination”. Look who just won the Senegalese presidency!
A 45-year-old man! Opposition leader for that matter. So, Obaseki has no excuse for wanting to impeach Shaibu. They are birds of the same feather! They only have a few months left in office after which they will be history. Superior to them is nature; for in a few years, they will see the glaring mistakes they made. Nothing lasts forever. Someone described this Obaseki versus Shaibu saga as a mystery. It is not; greed and intolerance is the cause. Nevertheless, the die is cast. And at this point, it is doubtful if Obaseki would pull back; he didn’t when he had those renegade Assemblymen in his sights; Obaseki had been too smart for the people of Edo State. They can get over this quarrel. If it is a curse operating, it can be stopped; if it is ambition or obsession, it can be dropped; what is needed is endurance. Governors are not gods; they are human.
