The Government of Edo state has denied the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu access to his office at the government house in Benin, the state capital. Reports gather that Philip Shaibu showed up at the Government House on Monday, but met the shock of his life when he could not access the gate that leads to his office, as it was securely locked away.
In a video already going viral on social media, Shaibu is seen holding a mobile phone to his ear, saying he has been standing by the gate. He also mentioned that he was yet to receive official communication pertaining to his relocation.
“Up till now, I don’t have any official communication that I should relocate. As I am speaking to you now, I am standing by the gate,” he said.
For weeks running, the Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu have been at loggerheads.
A few weeks ago, the Government of the state disbanded Shaibu’s media crew, a development that was officially communicated by the state’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare.
The statement read in part:
“Edo State Government has disbanded the media crew attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor, with a directive to the Deputy Governor to henceforth request the Ministry of Communication and Orientation for media coverage of activities of his office.
“This directive followed the ugly and unfortunate incident that happened during the colloquium held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum celebration held at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Soundstage, where some journalists, who claimed to be the media crew of the Deputy Governor, attempted to force their way into the hall where the governor and other invited dignitaries were already seated.”
It is gathered that Obaseki and Shaibu fell apart after the latter began nursing an ambition to contest for the position of Governor in the state, a decision that did not sit well with the former.
Shaibu had gone to the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek that the court shield him from being impeached by the Governor, following his ambitious political moves.