Worsening faceoff as Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, is denied access to Gov’t House office – The Conclave Online Newspaper

Edo State Deputy Governor 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 but could not enter because the gate leading to his office was placed under lock and key.

He said he had yet to receive a formal letter from the governor’s office concerning his relocation to a new office.

The embattled deputy governor noted that formalising the relocation was the proper thing to do.

According to him: “Up till now, I don’t have any official communication that I should relocate. The only people who 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.”

He was heard speaking to someone on the phone in front of the locked gate. The identity of the person at the other end could not be confirmed.

Last week, a letter said to be from the office of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, was reported to have been sent to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor directing Shuaibu to relocate to a new office situated at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.

This development is the latest in the faceoff between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy.

While there have been speculations about plans to impeach Shaibu, the State Assembly has denied such.

Obaseki had also accused his deputy of plotting a coup against him.

But at a recent gathering to mark the 32nd anniversary of Edo State, Shaibu described his principal as a brother, saying he remained loyal to him despite their political differences.

Shaibu had said, “As for the issues that were 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 to settle at home and not in the media. I am well brought up.

“I can tell you that from my Christian background, if you make a vow with God that you want to do something, you must fulfil it. 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.”