Akinwande Soji-Ojo
There is heavy security at the Edo State government house, located on Osadebe Avenue, Benin City, following reports that Philip Shaibu is plotting to resume as the state’s deputy governor.
Recall that the state House of Assembly had in April impeached Shaibu at the height of his rift with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
However, he challenged the impeachment in court, saying the lawmakers did not give him fair hearing.
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Kolawole Omotosho had annulled the impeachment and ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement, but the state government failed to comply with the order, saying it had filed a stay of execution.
On Monday, visitors and civil servants were seen trekking long distances to their destinations after security operatives took over the whole area.
Crusoe Osagie, spokesperson to Obaseki, had in a statement on Sunday night, alleged that Shaibu had perfected plans to invade the government house to enforce his “purported” reinstatement despite a stay of execution filed at the Court of Appeal.
Osagie called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his “devious plot as it is a clear recipe for chaos.”
“We want to draw the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by Shaibu to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho.
“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal and we appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that our state does not descend to anarchy because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that is one death too many and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such,” he said.
Responding, Shaibu through his spokesperson, Ebomhiana Musa, denied the allegation, saying the reality is yet to dawn on Obaseki that they had been rejected by Edo people.
“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood for whatever reason.
“As it is today, in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the good people of Edo State and Nigerians, Philip Shaibu is the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State. We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us,” Musa said.
