The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has been denied access to his old office at the Government House in Benin, the state capital.
Shaibu arrived at the Government House on Monday morning to find the gate to his office locked.
He states that he has not yet received an official letter from the governor’s office, which, in his view, is the appropriate channel for communicating a directive regarding the move to a new office.
“Up till now, I don’t have any official communication that I should relocate. The only people that have official communication are my civil servants. The civil servants have official communication but I don’t. As I am speaking to you now, I am standing by the gate,” conveyed this message during a phone conversation with an as-yet-unidentified individual.
Reports last week indicated that a letter purportedly from the office of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Governor’s Office to facilitate Shuaibu’s move to a new office located at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.
However, according to sources close to Edo’s second-ranking official assert that the new office has been neglected and is in urgent need of renovation.
This development is the latest episode in the ongoing dispute between Governor Obaseki and his deputy. Although there have been speculations about potential moves to impeach Shaibu, the Edo Assembly has denied such claims.
This development represents the most recent tussle in the ongoing disagreement between Governor Obaseki and his deputy. While there have been rumors of potential impeachment proceedings against Shaibu, the Edo Assembly has refuted such claims..
Obaseki had additionally alleged his deputy of scheming against him. However, during a recent event commemorating the state’s anniversary, Shaibu referred to his superior as a brother, affirming his unwavering loyalty despite their political disparities.
“As for the issues that are around town when I was away, I really would not want to talk. Issues that concern my governor are not things I like to speak about on camera. No, no, no! He is my elder brother and boss and I don’t think I should talk about anything. And if I have issues with him, I think it is better settled at home and not in the media. I am well brought up,”
He made this statement during a conversation on the sidelines of a thanksgiving service held in Benin to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of Edo State.
“I can tell you that from my Christian background if you make a vow with God that you want to do something, you must fulfill it. And the vow I have taken with God is that I will continue to support Godwin Obaseki as the governor of Edo State from the beginning to the end.”
“But that does not stop anything that has to do with ambition. Ambition is personal and it does not affect loyalty. My loyalty to the governor remains absolute. I see that everybody is doing solidarity. I am also in solidarity with the governor. I am also declaring my unalloyed solidarity and loyalty to the governor and nothing more.”
Here are photos of Shaibu being denied entry to the government house
