Rift between Shaibu, Obaseki Festers as Deputy Seeks Court Protection

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has approached the court to seek protection from his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to avoid imminent impeachment and removal from office.

In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and made available to the media on Thursday, the appellant is seeking an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State including attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The Court papers which listed the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State, Speaker Edo House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State as defendants was obtained by this reporter.

Further investigations reveal that in the past two months, all has not been well in the state house, Benin City between Governor Obaseki and the Deputy Governor, Comrade Shaibu.

Our Correspondent revealed that an alleged dehumanization and humiliation of Shaibu by his principal, Governor Obaseki, started when Comrade Shaibu was seen in a viral video with Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Sources further alleged that a few days after the Abuja viral video, the governor summoned all Edo State House of Assembly PDP members to his mansion, excluding his deputy. The deputy who was briefed about the meeting drove directly to the governor’s mansion but was reportedly rebuffed and humiliated by the DSS personnel who told him he was not on their list of invitees.

According to our source, the DSS operatives might have been told not to allow him in based on his alleged treason and his association with Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Lawrence Oka.

Our correspondent was also informed that the meeting was held to allocate the leadership positions in preparation for the next day’s inauguration which was a run-up to end Philip’s political career and ambition. All efforts to reach the deputy governor or his media aides were unsuccessful.

Three weeks ago, our source at the government house informed of the consistent nocturnal meetings in the PDP leader’s residence in Benin City. In one such meeting, some of the Local Government chairmen across the state were allegedly selected and briefed on the developments by the governor to sensitize and prepare them for his pending actions.

Amidst the persisting cold war between the governor and his deputy, NewsmakersNG was informed that the former Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and a former Chief Judge promptly interfered by summoning the duo to broker peace. Unconfirmed revelations were supposed to have been made by the governor, who stated that Shaibu was dining and wining with his adversaries, especially Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Lawrence Oka.

In addition, he accused his deputy of mentioning His Majesty the Oba of Benin to the Italian Embassy without his permission. It was also said that the governor was determined to punish his deputy for visiting the relatives of a deceased renowned Chief of the Benin Kingdom without his permission.

Though all the allegations were addressed, and both resolved to work in harmony to move the state forward, two days later, the source revealed that the governor directed the Revenue Generation Agencies and the Local Government Councils, which include HOLGAs, Bankers, Technical Partners, EIRS, and Edo-GIS domiciled in the Deputy Governor’s office be moved to his office despite the successes recorded by Philip who raised it from N3m monthly to N120m after serious threats.

The source further revealed that the governor summoned a meeting to hold at the Exco Chambers to address all concerned, but a twist was introduced as all others who met one on one in the Governor’s Office contrary to the given venue through the supervision of his Chief of Staff and instructed that Shaibu must not be allowed into his office.

Following up with the narratives, our source at the Government House claimed that the Deputy Governor, who is not a neophyte in the Nigeria political space, has decided to seek legal means to protect his job and any unforeseen eventuality while reconciliation continues with his acclaimed senior brother, Governor Obaseki.

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