Edo: Obaseki Vs Shaibu Crisis Depeens As Fresh Details Concerning Yesterday’s Drama At Govt House Emerge
Despite efforts from various quarters, it appears that the bitter dispute between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, is showing no signs of resolution. The situation escalated further yesterday when reports emerged that the deputy governor was allegedly denied access to Government House in Benin City.
However, an unsigned statement, whose authenticity was unconfirmed, seemed to present a case in favor of the governor. It claimed that Shaibu, along with his security team, attempted to forcibly enter the governor’s personal office, even though it had been relocated to a different location.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) strongly criticized what they termed as “unnecessary executive antagonism” by Obaseki against Shaibu, labeling it as “irritating pettiness.” HURIWA urged the state House of Assembly to intervene and investigate the matter.
The incident yesterday unfolded when Shaibu arrived at the gate leading to his office, only to find the main entrance to the building locked with chains and heavy padlocks. He and his aides waited for nearly an hour before eventually leaving. It’s reported that Shaibu tried to reach the governor through numerous calls, but was unsuccessful.
Sources disclosed that Shaibu later engaged in discussions with the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to register his complaint about being locked out of his office.
Shaibu allegedly called upon the Government House Camp Commandant, Ibrahim Babatunde (SP), to inquire why he was denied access to his office. However, he was informed that it was a directive from higher authorities. Babatunde reportedly stated that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Government House, Williams Wabba, would be in a better position to provide an explanation.
Furthermore, it was gathered that Shaibu reached out to Wabba via phone, and although Wabba promised to come, he did not.
An eye witness said, “The gate to the office of the deputy governor and the main entrance leading to the storey building was locked with chains and heavy padlocks. Shaibu and his aides waited for about an hour and left.”
Nonetheless, there is a circulating report online, purportedly shared by associates of Obaseki, asserting that Shaibu attempted to enter the governor’s office even after being informed of the governor’s absence.
The report contends that despite the pleas of security personnel, who urged him to “kindly go back and call the governor if he wanted to see his principal,” Shaibu allegedly persisted in trying to push the gate, causing a commotion.
An anonymous aide to Obaseki, reluctant to disclose their name, claimed that the deputy governor’s visit to Government House was solely to cause disruption.
This source insisted that the matter of the deputy governor being barred from his office didn’t arise, as his office had been relocated more than two weeks prior.
The governor’s aide stated regarding Shaibu, “He has an office and he relocated there and sent the story out. So he should be asked why he came to Government House today trying to force himself into an office that is not his own.
“His office is there. If he had gone there and he was locked out, then it will be an issue. He came to Government House purposely to cause tension.”
A letter signed by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, dated September 15, 2023, addressed to the Office of the Deputy Governor seemed to suggest that Shaibu had been informed of his relocation to a new office.
The letter, which was received by the deputy governor’s office on September 18, 2023, stated, “I write to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor has approved the relocation of your office accommodation to No. 7, Dennis Osadebe Avenue, GRA, Benin City.
“You are therefore requested to ensure your compliance in line with Mr. Governor’s approval, please.”
Nonetheless, HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said, “We have read series of stories in the media regarding the unacceptable level of pettiness that has become the governance modus operandi of the Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, particularly, with regard to his absolute disrespect for the office of the deputy governor of Edo State occupied by virtue of a joint ticket by His Excellency, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“The two actions that speak to this act of treachery is that of expulsion of the deputy governor out of the premises of the Government House in Benin City to a street flooded by muddied and dirty latrine water.
“And, secondly, the refusal of the security officers attached to the Government House to grant access to the deputy governor and, thus, presenting the high office of the deputy governor as that of an unwanted irritant, when in fact, there can’t be the office of state governor without that of deputy governor.
“We think that the Edo State House of Assembly, if it exists, should investigate if these decisions of the governor against his deputy fall within the jurisdiction of decisions made in an atmosphere of ‘unsound mind’, in which case, if the legislators determine that the quality of such decisions can be so classified to have possibly originated from ‘directives emanating from an unsound mind’, they should impeach the governor.
“There is the need for the assembly to constitute an investigative panel, including clinical psychological experts, to examine if it is possible for such decisions against the deputy governor, who holds a joint mandate with the governor, to have been originated from ‘a sound mind’. But if the contrary is the determination reached by the House, that such decisions are from a sound mind, then the people of Edo State should be told transparently.”
