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Edo poll: Battle line between Obaseki, Shaibu getting thicker
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, are two intimate friends, but from indications things are falling apart between them ahead of the state governorship poll.
The drama playing out in the Edo State Government House on Osadebe Avenue will make Nollywood directors go green with envy, while political analysts will be left stupefied by the unpredictable nature of events in the last two weeks in the ancient city of Benin.
The two major characters in the drama that has tilted towards absurdity are the state governor and his deputy, Godwin Obaseki, and Philip Shaibu, respectively. They are both locked in a battle of wits, with the people of Edo likely to suffer, being the grass underneath the feet of two warring elephants battling for supremacy like in the proverbial tale.
However, their benefactor, Adam Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state and senator representing Edo North, may play a crucial role in the outcome.
An indication that all was not well between the number one and two citizens of the state gained ground when the news that Shaibu approached a Federal High Court in Abuja over two weeks ago to stop possible impeachment moves against him.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police, the State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State are the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth defendants, respectively. Shaibu was seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th, and 5th defendants/respondents, or their agents, from commencing an impeachment process against him. He also prayed the court to restrain the governor of the state or another person acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the state’s deputy governor.
However, the governor has denied knowledge of plans to impeach his deputy while accusing Shaibu of planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress. He also said he was sure his deputy was desperate to become governor instead of allowing the government to finish strong and deliver on its promised dividends of democracy.
The governor said, “There is no plan to impeach his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu. The move by Shaibu seeking a court order to stop his purported impeachment is preemptive ahead of his defection to the All Progressives Congress.
“The deputy governor has been actively engaging with senior actors both at the national and state levels of the APC, negotiating his way into their party, and he is on the verge of finalising moves to defect to the APC.
“Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambitions with me. The last time we spoke of my successor after the House of Assembly election, I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and conclude all the projects we started. It’s only when we do this right that we will have the support of the people for my successor. I am not angry, but naturally, I should be disappointed. I understand what is going on.”
Despite pressing on with his court case, Shaibu also denied having plans to rejoin the APC.
The deputy governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, said the report was the handwork of mischief makers who were bent on widening the deputy governor and his principal, Obaseki.
“Hackwriters are at it again. Mischief makers bent on destabilising our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the All Progressives Congress, next week. There is no iota of truth in this.
“To further put a lie to this, the spin doctors claimed that the APC National Working Committee, NWC, is set to receive him in Abuja. The question here for discerning minds is: is it the NWC of a party that receives a defector into the party? Shaibu has never minced words, vowing to sink and swim with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki. This, he has said several times in public fora.’’
However, unverified but trending reports about the current political happenings in the state show that at the centre of the rift is the desire of Shaibu to succeed Obaseki, who is said to favour a successor from Edo Central, a region that has yet to taste power after the court sacked a former governor, Oserheimen Osunbor, who is from the zone, in 2008 after 18 months in office.
Shaibu may also have incurred the wrath of his boss when he abandoned the swearing-in of commissioners in Benin to attend the inauguration of the National Assembly, where he met and fraternised with a former governor of the state, Oshiomhole, who is not on good terms with Obaseki and his deputy. The meeting between Oshiomhole and Shaibu was not seen as a chance meeting but as one that was arranged. Shaibu is perceived to be working towards mending fences with his godfather, which must have angered the powers that be on Osadebe Avenue in Benin.
Obaseki seemed to have responded to his deputy’s “insubordination” by placing revenue collection under the direct supervision of his office, which will include that of the local government, which was formerly under the deputy governor’s office.
The governor was also recently at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, receiving former Olympians and taking them on a tour of the facilities, a function that would have been carried out by Shaibu (who was away in the United States of America at the time) or the leadership of the sports council led by Yusuf Alli, a former Olympian.
However, at the plenary of the House of Assembly on Monday, there was no mention of the impeachment move against Shaibu, though those close to the Assembly said it was a matter of time as it already had the numbers to impeach Shaibu.
Expectedly, concerned citizens and groups have waded into the matter in a bid to bring a lasting solution to the rift. While some have chided the deputy governor for taking his boss and others to court, others have opined that Shaibu has the right to approach the court to save his political career.
A lawyer, Osagie Obayuwana, said that Shaibu did not have to wait till he was impeached (which bothers him on his rights) before making the move.
He said, “People take the EFFC and DSS to court (due to perceived fear) to get an ex parte order to stop these agencies from arresting them. And in many instances, those matters never see the light of day.’’
However, the former Commissioner for Communication in the state, Andrew Emwanta, said it was obvious that the governor and his team were not comfortable with Shaibu’s decision to run for governorship next year.
He said, “It is clear that the governor and his team are not comfortable with the deputy governor’s decision to run for the office of the governor. Oshiomhole is a mutual benefactor to the two of them. In 2016, he sponsored the candidature of Godwin Obaseki, who was relatively unknown in the political space. He saw Obaseki as a technocrat who needed to be brought in to manage the economy because he was the chairman of Oshiomhole’s economic team.
“Against all odds and advice, he was imposed on the party, and he also brought his political godson, Shaibu, who was in the House of Representatives, to run as Obaseki’s running mate. Unfortunately, Oshiomhole’s removal as national chairman was sponsored by these men through his ward chairman, who suspended him and removed him as national chairman of the APC. Today, Oshiomhole is a senator, and I hope Shaibu’s ambition is on solid footing.
“His impeachment sounded like a joke, but it has become real, and to avert that reality, there was a need to go to court to stop it. If the impeachment wasn’t real, I don’t think the deputy governor would have gone to court. The governor is denying it, but it is real. As one of the defendants in the case, he is supposed to file a counter affidavit, which he has not done. He feels it is more convenient to deny the impeachment moves in the media, but he needs to get his lawyers to do the needful and appear in court.’’
Reverend Olu Martin, a public affairs analyst, said that the deputy governor should be diplomatic and mature in his quest to succeed Obaseki.
“I think it’s just blackmail because Dr Pius Odubu tried to contact Oshiomhole and there was no problem. He even went ahead to contest the primary of the APC; at that time, Oshiomhole preferred Godwin Obaseki, and we didn’t see any court cases.’
There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but if your principal doesn’t give you that nod, it does not mean you should blackmail him. Because the governor has been having issues with some persons in the past, he wants to portray the governor in a bad light, so to me, it is a complete mischief.’’
“Their tenure will end on November 26, 2024. I think the deputy governor just realised that the governor may want to play fair. Don’t forget that Edo Central just had 20 months as governor that the law doesn’t even recognise.
“I think the governor is looking at a situation where all the major tribes in Edo State see themselves as brothers and sisters. So, I think he just wants to ruffle it a little.
“I cannot verify claims that he has been stopped from carrying out his functions. But the deputy governor has not shown any evidence to that effect; the only one in the public domain is the directive by the governor that revenue generation comes under his office. The governor has the right to do this. The constitution says that the only duty the deputy governor has is to assist the governor. So it is the governor who determines the level of assistance he wants from his deputy.’’
Oshiomhole may have shut the door against Shaibu when he said that the All Progressives Congress was not a place to rehabilitate failed politicians. However, in politics, anything is possible as the drama continues to unfold.
Nevertheless, the crisis may be the beginning of troubles lurking around the corner ahead of the state governorship election.
Unknown to most Nigerians, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has another wife, aside from the First Lady, Dame Patience Ibifaka (née Oba).
The existence of his second wife.Dr Mrs. Lott Jonathan, popularly called Mrs. Lott J, is one major aspect of GEJ’s family life, which is consciously being kept out of the awareness of most Nigerians. Lott J is not just President Jonathan’s second wife, she is also the mother of his children, two boys.
A Law graduate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Lott J is the daughter of Chief F.D. Lott, a renowned lawyer and former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State.
She is the cousin of Diezeni Allison-Madueke, the controversy-inclined Minister of Petroleum, and the two are as close as blood sisters can be. Lott J’s father is a member of the Governing Council of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa.
Sources disclosed that Lott J has been married to the President even before he made his foray into politics. It was gathered that after Jonathan became the Deputy-Governor of Bayelsa State, Lott J tried to muscle her way into his heart, by using her two sons as a bargaining chip to tie his hand.
However, she met a resistance in a fiery Patience, who foiled all her attempts. By the time Jonathan became the governor of Bayelsa State, he decided to relocate his second wife and two sons to the United States of America.
Shortly after Jonathan became President, Lott J came back to Nigeria with her two sons, and made Abuja her place of abode.
Lott J lives in one of the most highbrow areas in Maitama Street. Her husband is said to pay her a visit every Sunday.
Lott J recently bagged a Doctorate Degree in Education.
Described as a very easy-going and self-effacing lady, Lott J owns and runs a private school, Aduvie Montessori International. It is situated off Blantyre Street in Maitama and it is rated as one of the best in FCT Abuja.
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Aisha Buhari, the widow of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has shared that her husband left behind a touching message for her to convey to the people of Nigeria.
“Ever since he left office, he often told me that if he passed away before me, I should kindly ask Nigerians to forgive him for any wrongs he might committed during his time in power.
He always reminded me that he was only human capable of both good and mistakes.
That’s why I’m here today, begging all Nigerians to please forgive him before he is finally laid to rest”.
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, a public holiday in honour of the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The declaration is in furtherance of the seven days of national mourning earlier declared by President Bola Tinubu in honour of Buhari.
Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
The minister stated that the holiday is a mark of respect for the late president’s service to the nation, his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, and his enduring legacy in governance and national development.
“President Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of our great nation. This public holiday provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to reflect on his life, leadership, and the values he upheld,” the minister said.
He urged citizens to use the day to honour the late president’s memory by promoting peace, patriotism, and national cohesion, in line with his vision for a prosperous and united Nigeria.
“As earlier announced, the national flags are to fly at half-mast for the seven-daymourning period from Sunday, 13th July, 2025.
“The Federal Government extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late president, the people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians, while praying for the peaceful repose of his soul,” the statement added.¹
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement following the announcement by Garba Shehu, a former spokesperson for the Presidency confirming the death of Buhari, the group described the revelation as long-overdue vindication for its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who had consistently claimed that Buhari died in 2017.
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According to the IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group referenced long-standing claims made by Kanu concerning the leadership of the country and called for deeper reflection on the country’s political history between 2017 and 2023.
The group stated that Kanu had, as far back as 2017, raised questions about President Buhari’s health and presence in public life, adding that recent acknowledgments by former government officials have reignited public debate around those claims.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu spoke on sensitive matters that many dismissed at the time,” the statement read. “Recent developments only highlight the need for transparency and open dialogue in governance.”
While avoiding direct reference to conspiracy theories, IPOB emphasized the need for public accountability, urging Nigerians to examine the implications of official silence on important national issues.
“We believe this is a moment for the country to reflect on the importance of truth in leadership, and the consequences of withholding information from the public,” the group added.
The statement also called for recognition of Kanu’s role in raising awareness on national issues, and reiterated IPOB’s demand for his release from detention.
The comment by Garba Shehu, which acknowledged that President Buhari had faced serious health challenges during his tenure, has sparked renewed discussion online and in the media, though no official confirmation has been made on any of the more controversial claims circulating.
Observers have noted that while the Shehu statement did not confirm any wrongdoing, it has led to fresh calls for a detailed review of leadership conduct during that period.
The IPOB’s statement concluded with a call for justice, truth, and reconciliation, stating that Nigeria must move forward through transparency, not speculation.
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Osun 2026: Davido releases new song, ‘From Umbrella To Broom’, as Governor Adeleke set to join APC
Ahead of the 2026 Osun State elections, Nigerian music superstar Davido has unveiled a new single titled “From Umbrella To Broom.”
This release comes in light of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s recent decision to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The song, infused with vibrant beats and thought-provoking lyrics, captures the essence of political change and loyalty, reflecting the complex dynamics within the state’s political landscape. As the campaign season heats up, Davido’s passionate tribute aims to rally support for Governor Adeleke, highlighting the significant implications of this political shift for the people of Osun.
According to sources in Adeleke’s camp confirmed that the governor will be unveiled at a ceremonial event after meeting top APC stakeholders yesterday.
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Compounding the rumors surrounding his political shift is the recent release of a new song by Davido, the globally renowned Nigerian artist and brother to Governor Adeleke. The track, titled “New broom go sweep better, Ẹtan abẹla si ìjọba wa, From umbrella to the broom,” has stirred considerable buzz and is seen by many as a commentary on the governor’s anticipated defection to the APC. The lyrics metaphorically suggest change and renewal, further fueling speculation about Adeleke’s political ambitions.
Adding to the excitement, Davido, who has been a visible supporter of his brother, accompanied Governor Adeleke during a recent visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos. In light of the 2026 governorship election approaching, Davido is poised to be a key promotional figure for Adeleke’s campaign, further intertwining the realms of music and politics in this evolving scenario.
“As of now, there are deliberations around Adeleke joining the APC. The considerations of the party (APC) leaders are that if he joins, it would help it get a hold of Osun State, given that he is the incumbent governor, but we are still waiting on what will happen,” an APC chieftain told SaharaReporters.
Another APC source in Osun said the final decision rests with President Bola Tinubu.
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“If the President decides to accept Adeleke into the party, we would support him, as he is the leader of the party,” the source said.
“The issue however is that quite a number of key members of the PDP in Osun State left the party (PDP), due to differences with Adeleke, so there are concerns that if Adeleke joins the party, it may have adverse effect on the APC in Osun State, how would those who left PDP because of Adeleke feel.”
Moving for a job usually involves obtaining a valid work visa, and the requirements can differ from one country to another.
However, some European countries have streamlined their visa processes, making it easier for foreign professionals to obtain employment permits.
A work visa allows foreign nationals to live and work legally in another country. The specific type of visa depends on factors such as job position, skills, and employer sponsorship.
Applicants must submit the required documents, meet eligibility criteria, and comply with immigration rules. Countries with streamlined visa systems often use them to attract skilled workers and address labour shortages.
According to Visa guide, here are 8 countries where Nigerians can easily get a work visa
Iceland
Iceland is a popular choice due to its work-life balance and structured visa process. Applicants must secure a contract before applying for a visa. The country offers multiple work permits, including those for expert knowledge, labour shortages, athletes, family reunification, students, specialised employees on a service contract, and special reasons.
Latvia
Foreign nationals require a residence permit, type D visa, and work permit unless they are Latvian company shareholders, permanent residence holders, or managers of foreign companies representing a Latvian firm. EU nationals do not need a work permit but must apply for a residence permit if staying beyond 90 days. Work permit types include A type for Latvian employers, C and E types for intra-company transfers, D type for business visits, and a seasonal work visa for temporary employment.
Lithuania
Lithuania is attractive to immigrant workers. Applicants need a job offer before applying, and the employer submits the work permit application to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange. Some non-EU citizens can work without a permit if they meet high-level professional qualification requirements and obtain a decision on compliance with labour market needs, after which they apply for a temporary residence permit instead of a national visa or work visa.
Estonia
Estonia has a high rate of accepted work visa applications and receives fewer requests than other countries. Applicants can apply for a D visa for short-term projects or begin working immediately while applying for a residence permit upon arrival. Job opportunities are frequently posted on the Work in Estonia webpage.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s economic growth makes it an attractive destination for job seekers. Applicants typically require a single permit for residence and work, a work permit with temporary residence for employment or family reunification, or a long-term residence permit. Work visa options include a single permit requiring a reported job vacancy 20 days before applying, a work permit for family reunification cases, seasonal employment for up to 180 days, and an EU Blue Card for highly skilled professionals.
Czechia
Czechia attracts job seekers due to its economy and skilled workforce. Work visa options include an employee card issued for specific job positions for two years, an EU Blue Card for university graduates, an intra-company employee transfer card for transfers within multinational firms, a type D business visa for self-employed individuals, and special provisions for foreigners with free access to the labour market, such as family members of Blue Card holders or certain international students.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg offers various visa options, including a short-stay Schengen visa for business activities, a long-stay national visa for employment exceeding 90 days, and an EU Blue Card for highly skilled professionals working for over 12 months. The country has a high minimum wage and low unemployment rates.
Germany
Germany has a large and diverse workforce and welcomes immigrant workers through its visa system. Applicants can apply for a long-stay visa if they have a job offer, plan to establish a business or work as freelancers, seek employment upon arrival, participate in an au pair programme, or qualify for a working holiday visa under agreements with specific countries. The country has also introduced an ‘opportunity card’ allowing foreign nationals to enter and look for jobs without a prior offer.
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