Edo people will remember Rt Hon Uyi Igbe former Speaker Edo State House of Assembly and Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, former Majority Leader, now Deputy Governor and other 14 APC members in the Edo State House Assembly that saved former Governor Oshiomhole from impeachment in 2014 during the house crisis to impeach former Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The plot was geared at causing crisis in the state so as to give the PDP the opportunity to win the majority in the state House of Assembly and National Assembly elections come 2015. If the alleged plot to impeach the three succeeds, one of the lawmakers, who defected to the PDP was expected to transform from Speaker to governor. With the defection of four APC lawmakers to the PDP, the PDP remains in the minority. But with eight PDP lawmakers against APC’s 16, there were strong moves to induce more lawmakers to back the plot. The failed impeachment plot saved and stabilized Oshiomhole’s government.
The reason that the out-gone governor of the Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole depended on a number of friends, officials and advisers to be able to do most of the things including policies and development he achieved during his eight years administration.
Some of the people that saved and stabilized Oshiomhole’s administration include the following:
Mr.Godwin Obaseki the Governor of Edo State once told former Governor Oshiomhole to take upon himself some ambitiously near impossible tasks and turned them around. Edo roads and Edo Water Storm project are obvious examples. It is very credible evidence that the state is a viable centre for global investment hub. Obaseki was instrumental to the setting up of the 450MW Azura-Edo gas power project and other projects.
The strategic role Godwin Obaseki has played in the economic development of Edo State, especially in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic and Strategy Team, a position which he has held since 2009, have yielded desirable outcomes for the state notably in the areas of infrastructure development, investment and financial administration. He also brings a wealth of technical knowledge and experience to the planning and execution of key projects and initiatives. A workable template for the development of the State has been clearly established and the delivery of new and modern infrastructures has resulted from it across the State for all to see. As things stand, nobody will come to Edo State without noticing the ubiquity of road projects and the revolutionary accomplishment in the sector. Edo state has now successfully emerged from the insular backwater in which she had hitherto wallowed.
Godwin Obaseki has strong grasp of the state’s issues and his immense contribution in raising the revenue profile of the state and effectively managing scarce resources to ensure that projects are executed and salaries paid promptly, have helped to lay a solid foundation for the economic empowerment and development of Edo State, and expressed a desire for continuity in the implementation, monitoring and completion of key projects in the state.
Others are:
Dr. Simon Imuokemhe: He is a political tactician and administrative genius who upheld the Oshiomhole’s administrative like a strong Iroko tree. He is reputed to be one of the few that regularly guided Oshiomhole with wise counsels Imuokemhe was the former Head of service, former Chairman Edo State Revenue Board and later was appointed as the secretary to the state Government (SSG).
Rt. Hon Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu: He was the ex-governor deputy governor. Dr. Odubu provided the former governor with the enabling environment to function. Despite provocations, insult, humilizations, marginalization and deprivation, Dr. Odubu was loyal to his boss throughout the eight years period, creating a peaceful atmosphere for him to operate.
Barrister Osarodion Ogie: He was the ex-governor’s right hand man. He was a member of the kitchen cabinet of the former governor. Nothing happened is Oshiomhole’s government without his knowledge. Barr. Ogie was first appointed as the ex-governor Chief of Staff (COS) and later as Commission for works.
Hon. Phillip Shaibu: He was commonly referred to as Oshiomhole’s political godson. As a staunch supporter of the former governor, Hon Shaibu is reputed for organzing and executing the ex-governor’s behind the scene activities. Hon. Shaibu was a two-term member of the Edo State House of Assembly. As Oshiomhole’s ‘personal person’, he was made the deputy governor of the State even when his tenure as a member of the House of Representative was yet to get half way.
Mr. Clem Agba: He was a member of the Oshiomhole’s political family. There was never a dull moment with him. As the Commissioner for Environment, he was exposed to many huge contract awarded by the state government. Notable among them are the Benin Storm Water Project, the Auchi Erosion Gully control and the Queen Ede Erosion site.
Rt. Hon Bright Omokhodion: He was a People Democratic Party member at state House of Assembly who in 2010 decamped to the then ruling Action Congress (AC), overthrown the leadership of the PDP led-House and was appointment as the speaker marked a positive turning point for the young Oshiomhole’s which was hitherto stifled of cooperation. By the PDP-lad House. Omokhodion has since returned to the PDP because of his “used and dumed” allegation against Comrade Oshiomhole.
HRM Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom. The Benin Royal Father though was apolitical stood as a father to the out-gone governor. It is on record that the transited Oba Erediauwa, CFR was in the habit of giving wise counsels to the former governor which on doubt helped in moving the state forward.
APC MEMBERS, EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 2011-2015
The political tension in Edo heightened on the 7th of July 2014 after an alleged plot to impeach Oshiomhole; his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu; and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Uyi Igbe. The plot was masterminded by members of the APC who defected to the PDP including their lawmakers and some leaders of the PDP in the state. It was alleged that the lawmakers who were expected to execute the plot received N30million each while N20million will be added to it later.

The former Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Philip Shaibu, who reacted to the situation, said: “We are aware of their plot but they will fail. My joy is that we have lawmakers here who believe strongly in the developmental strides of the Comrade Governor so they can never be part of such plot to impeach the governor. We are very much aware of all the moves they are making to destabilize the state, to ensure that the Comrade Governor does not continue his developmental efforts but they are wasting their time. The problem with some people is that they now think like God, they act like God but what they fail to understand is that when the majority of the masses are with the Comrade Governor, God will always protect him and his administration.’’

In July 2014, the battle line was drawn and the political tension in Edo was expected to remain as charged as ever till the end of the 2015 general elections Edo State House of Assembly crises escalated when the All Progressives Congress faction of the Assembly were stopped from crippling the Assembly by removing its roofing sheets and plenary effects consisting of documents, mace, chairs and other materials that makes the House effective. Pandemonium broke out as early as 12 pm when armed policemen stopped workers who wanted to remove the roofing sheets of the main building where plenary holds in the complex. The roof removal, according to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Uyi Igbe, was part of renovation of the Assembly. The policemen however, could not stop the total removal as some parts of the chambers section had been removed before they arrived.
Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Festus Ebea, said that the attempt to cripple the Assembly was a guise for the APC lawmakers to continue plenary at the Government House, and described the act as excessive brigandage: “The roof they are removing was done last year and we don’t have it in our budget for 2014. I am the chairman of the tender board, nobody ever reached me that we were doing renovation work.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) numbering 16 had dropped the hint that the assembly was undergoing renovation and that they would henceforth use the exco Chambers of the government house until the completion of the Assembly. However, the plenary that held at the Government House was behind closed doors. The development might not be unconnected with the PDP’s faction’s condemnation of the plenary at Government House. Hon Ebea, who stated that he remains the rightful speaker, and would supervise a plenary on Monday, 7th July, 2014 at the Assembly Complex.
Many of the lawmakers believed strongly in the developmental strides of the former Comrade Governor so they could not be part of such plot to impeach the governor. The House was aware of all the moves PDP was making to destabilize the state, to ensure that the Comrade Governor did not continue his developmental efforts but they were wasting their time. Majority of the masses were with the Comrade Governor, God protected him and his administration. The House saved former Governor Oshiomhole from impeachment and stabilized his administration in 2014.

Inwalomhe Donald, a Public Affairs Analyst writes from Benin City. [email protected]