Tensions have escalated at the Edo State Government House in Benin City as security has been tightened ahead of the expected return of reinstated Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. This comes after court rulings ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement, sparking a political standoff between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Security personnel, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), are stationed at the Government House. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have also been deployed to ensure order. Vehicles are being restricted from entering the premises, forcing staff, visitors, and journalists to proceed on foot. The heightened security measures are a response to the ongoing political situation in the state.
Ebomhiana Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Shaibu, addressed the developments in a statement, refuting claims that Shaibu intended to force his way into the Government House.
“Our attention has been drawn to allegations that Edo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, plans to invade the Government House on Monday, September 30, 2024, to enforce two court rulings that ordered his reinstatement,” Musa said.
Musa stressed that Shaibu is committed to peace and the rule of law, contrasting him with Governor Obaseki.
“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 any reason,” he added.
As tensions between the deputy governor and the governor continue to rise, Musa affirmed that Shaibu remains the legitimate deputy governor.
“As it stands, in the eyes of the law and the people of Edo State, Philip Shaibu is both the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State. We need not fight for what has already been given to us by God,” he stated.
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Musa also took the opportunity to comment on the recent political climate in Edo State, particularly the governorship election that took place on September 21, 2024.
“Governor Obaseki and his allies must accept that the people of Edo State have spoken. His godson, Asue Ighodalo, was roundly rejected in the election,” he noted.
On the other hand, Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media Projects, accused Shaibu of planning to invade the Government House with thugs in a bid to enforce his reinstatement. Osagie claimed that this move defied an appeal for a stay of execution on the court’s judgment.
“Shaibu’s plot is a clear recipe for chaos,” Osagie warned, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and prevent any escalation.