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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The deputy governor of Edo State,Philip Shaibu, has withdrawn the suit he filed against the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki.
In the suit filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Obaseki, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and Chief Judge of the state, were listed as first to fifth defendants respectively.
Shaibu had asked the court to restrain the governor, Speaker and Chief Judge from “initiating impeachment proceedings or sanctioning any impeachment” against him.
However, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, the deputy governor said due to intervention from “well-meaning citizens of state,” he has instructed his solicitors to withdraw the suit.
According to Shaibu, after a series of meetings held with him and also with Obaseki by well-meaning “Edolites and indeed Nigerians including party leaders, traditional rulers and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev’d Dr. Augustine Akubeze, the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese on the issues that led to my going to court on the above-named suit and with due respect to these eminent personalities and leaders whose persuasions and persons I cannot ignore, I, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu have authorised and instructed my Solicitors to withdraw the Suit forthwith.”
“I wish to sincerely thank and appreciate these well-meaning Nigerians, party leaders, traditional rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze for their kind words, advice and encouragement thus far in ensuring peace and unity in our dear State, Edo.
“I also wish to place on record my special thanks to Mr Governor, my boss and senior brother for this path of peace,” he added.