…as Deputy governor is kicked out of Govt House
By Titus Akhigbe
The crisis of confidence between the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his embattled deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu took a dangerous turn at the weekend when the office of the latter was suddenly moved out of the Government House.
Rumours of relocation of Shaibu’s office had been rife until a signpost confirming the new place was erected on Number 7,Dennis Osadebey Avenue in GRA.The new location is an abandoned building, which used to house the Procurement Office.
When The Sunday Times visited the facility yesterday, workers were seen clearing debris to make it habitable. One of the workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed it is a new place allocated to the Deputy Governor and that it will be ready for use in a few days.
Reacting to the alleged relocation, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Musa Ebomhiana claimed they have not been officially informed. His words: “I believe it’s a responsible government. We are not living in the jungle. We have not been informed officially. Things should be done normally. If he (Shaibu) enters his office tomorrow, let the security people not allow him in and tell him his office has been relocated. The world would get to know.
“It’s rumour until we are officially told.If you want to relocate him,you write him officially. It’s a joint ticket, one ticket. If he (Obaseki) decides otherwise, all well and good. He holds the yam and the knife.We are not in Banana Republic. Until we are told officially, we will resume in Government House by Monday”, Ebomhiana vowed.
Earlier, rising from its weekly Exco Meeting, the Executive Council of the Edo State Government had condemned the deputy governor, Comrade Shaibu for dragging Governor Obaseki and four others to an Abuja Federal High Court over an alleged plan to impeach him .
Stating the position of the Edo State Exco at a press briefing held after the Council rose, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon Chris Osa Nehikhare, said that the Exco was saddened by the action of the deputy governor, and condemned such in strong terms.
“Exco has condemned in very strong terms the position that our deputy governor has taken by taking the state governor, house of assembly and others to court over his impeachment claim, which was not a thing before he went to court. Exco condemned it and are saddened by the way this has happened and we all expressed our disappointment on what is going on. And I think Edo people should have the right to understand that what is happening is abnormal, we do not condone it, it is not acceptable to us but then, he is an individual”, Nehikhare said.
On if the Council made any attempt to reconcile the embattled deputy governor and his principal, the commissioner responded by saying that what Shaibu did amounted to breaching the oath of allegiance and secrecy he took, warning that such attracted consequences.
READ ALSO: Imo APC blackmail, intimidate Election Tribunal
“What he did is a breach of trust; a breach of the oath he swore to. Some of the things that are contained, some of the documents he put in the public space, are sensitive government documents and are what he swore to keep as secret. He breached what he swore to protect that is the truth, and there are consequences when that happens. But as politicians, we always look for a way to resolve these issues because we want everybody to always come and be together as politicians. But what he has done is a breach of trust. Again, as politicians, we never shut the door”, Nehikhare added.
.Meanwhile, the Abuja Federal High Court has fixed 7th September, 2023 for judgement, with a stern directive that parties should continue to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.