Group Urges EDHA To Reinstate Shaibu

  A Benin-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Movement for Good Governance April 14, 2007 has called on the Edo State House of Assembly to re-instate the Minority Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Philip Shaibu immediately.

A statement issued in Benin yesterday and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Victor Enobakhare and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Gaskin Otunba Williams, the group challenged the Edo State House of Assembly to make public the rationale for the removal of Hon. Philip Shaibu.

“We believe unless proved wrong, that, the removal of Hon. Shaibu is a calculated attempt by the PDP-led Edo State House of Assembly to slow down, frustrate and delay the utilization of the over N4 billion for the UBE, meant for the children are in highly expensive private schools”, the statement said.

The group contended that, “we are unaware that, resources not utilized will be refunded at the end of the year to the Federal Government of Nigeria which will make Edo State which has since paid its counterpart fund to loose out”.

The group said it views Shaibu’s purported suspension as an attempt to truncate the genuine effort of the Comrade Governor to improve the living standard of the poor through Universal Basic Education (UBE).

The UBE, the group further says is structured to improve the livelihood of the common man with a view to the poor competing favourably with children of the rich in the common market.