Thirty-eight-year-old Omobayo Marvellous Godwins was on Monday sworn in as the new Deputy Governor of Edo State.
He was sworn in by the Edo State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.
The swearing-in came on the heels of Philip Shaibu’s impeachment earlier in the day by the Edo State House of Assembly 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.
At the swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by many dignitaries from across the state, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said the choice of the new deputy governor, whom he described as a “thorough-bred young professional”, would provide the needed impetus to rally round all interests and persuasions within the state to work more closely together in realising the government’s vision for a viable, strong and prosperous state that will be the envy of all.
“At 38 years old, the new deputy governor is a symbol of our undying belief in the power of our youth to transform our dear State, bringing vigour and renewed energy to the drive to place young people at the centre of our politics and developmental agenda. He is a man for this season,” Obaseki said.
“It is with profound respect and humility that I address you this morning on this auspicious occasion of the swearing-in of Omobayo Marvellous as our new deputy governor, who will be working with me in these last few months of my administration as we make progress on our promise to finish strong for the benefit of our dear people.
“We have run a very interesting and eventful tenure since we took office in 2016 and gained your trust to continue on our mandate for another term in 2020, and at no point in this journey did I envisage that I will be having to work with two deputy governors before the end of my eight-year run in office. But as the Bible says in Proverb 16: 9: ‘You may make your plans, but it is God that directs your actions.’
“The legislative arm of government, in the past few weeks, carried out their constitutional role, providing checks and balances in our democracy, and today, we have arrived at this difficult but inevitable juncture.
“As there cannot be a vacuum in government, we have by consensus selected Omobayo Marvellous to take over the baton as the new deputy governor of our dear State,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event included the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; members of EDHA; Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Chairman Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi; local government chairmen; party leaders, permanent secretaries from various ministries, PDP leaders across the state, traditional leaders from Akoko-Edo, among others.
In his remarks, His Royal Highness, the Imah of Somorika, Oba Sule Idaiye, thanked the Governor for this position, noting that the decision to appoint someone from Akoko Edo as Deputy Governor was historic.
“In the history of Edo State, you have broken the record again with the choice of a Deputy Governor from Akoko-Edo. We are all celebrating today. This is the biggest position ever for the area,” Oba Idaiye said.
“You are a magician. As to how you arrived at the 38-year-old Omobayo Marvellous Godwins is surprising. The Deputy Governor is a machine, loved by the people, pleasing to our people. We thank you for what you have done for our people. We thank you for this great thing you have done for our people,” he said.
Responding, the new deputy governor thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve, pledging to work assiduously with the governor to finish well and strong.
Describing Obaseki as a youth-friendly governor, Omobayo said, “This appointment shows the governor seems to understand Akoko-Edo very well and the complexity therein. I thank the governor for today is a day of the Lord. If I am to draw the face of the Lord right now with a pen and drawing sheet, I will draw the face of Godwin Obaseki.
“I am not the best youth to come out from Edo State, this could only have been God. I understand my job description which is to actually complement the work of the governor. We have a consummate administrator like Governor Obaseki. I have studied his developmental plan over the years very sincerely. I have also looked at the master plan of this administration and will surely support him to finish well. I admire his style of administration and am sure to build on the existing structure in the plan as an engineer.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the recent development, Shaibu described his impeachment as illegal.
“We will fight this injustice with every strength in us for the sake of Edo State and the future of democracy,” Shaibu said in a broadcast shared on his official X handle.
“I denounce in the strongest terms the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly. This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on our very democratic principles. It is a threat to the foundation of our democracy,” he said.
