Godwins Omobayo was yesterday sworn in as Edo State deputy governor by the Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa.
He replaced Philip Shaibu, who was earlier in the day removed from office by the House of Assembly.
Shaibu was recommended for impeachment by the panel set up by the CJ. The lawmakers ratified the recommendation and sacked Shaibu.
Omobayo, an engineer was Labour Party (LP) House of Representatives candidate for Akoko-Edo Constituency.
The new deputy governors said his kinsmen were excited about his appointment, being the first deputy governor from the area.
However, Shaibu vowed to fight what he described as his illegal removal, saying that it smacked of injustice.
In his four-page acceptance speech, titled: “A Day of the Lord: A Day I Will Never Forget,” shortly after his inauguration at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, Omobayo said the hitherto marginalised Akoko-Edo had made history.
He said: “For my people in Akoko-Edo, it has been joy and excitement. Since colonial times, when the LGA was created, no administration has bothered to tempt Akoko-Edo with the position of deputy governor, even for one day. Akoko-Edo has not produced a state governor, no federal minister or other high-ranking government officers, except for the constitutionally-mandatory ones.
Etsako has ruled the state as governor. It has also been lucky to produce some military governors and vice military head of state and several ministers. Etsako has additionally produced two deputy governors of this state. Owan too has produced a deputy governor, some House of Assembly speakers, among other highly-placed government functionaries.
“This history is important to explain why my people are very excited about this appointment, even though it is for only a few months. In the six local government areas that make up Edo North Senatorial District, Akoko-Edo is the oldest and the largest in population, and in voting population. It is the third largest in population in Edo State.
In 1963, Etsako and Owan were one division, and they had four members in the then Midwest House of Assembly. Akoko-Edo was also a division with four members in the same House of Assembly. Today, the number for Akoko-Edo has reduced to only two, while other LGAs have had their numbers doubled or even tripled. So, we place importance on the decision of the Obaseki-led administration and the PDP to consider Akoko-Edo for this position.”
Omobayo added: “My Principal, Governor Obaseki, has demonstrated from the outset of his administration that he is aware that Akoko-Edo is being flagrantly marginalised. He therefore, took practical steps to bridge the gap, as much as possible. His first Chief of Staff (CoS), Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Special Assistant (SSA) on Research, Documentation and Writing were all from Akoko-Edo.
“He (Obaseki) has further entrenched the practice of appointing two commissioners from Akoko-Edo. In his time too, Akoko-Edo produced a Speaker of the House of Assembly, a deputy speaker and chief whip. And today, Akoko-Edo people have broken the yoke and shattered the jinx by producing a deputy governor in his time, on platter of diamond, designed by the Almighty and delivered by His Excellency.”
The new deputy governor acknowledged that the oath of office he took defined the legal limits that he could not exceed while in office.
