As Rift Between Obaseki and Shaibu Rages On…

The rift between Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki and his embattled deputy, Philip Shaibu is getting messier by the day as the deputy governor’s sister in-law got redeployed unceremoniously, writes Adibe Emenyonu.

few days ago, rumour mills have it that the deputy governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu will resume duties after an overseas holiday. This speculation raised some anxieties as to what would be the fate of Shaibu when he comes back to face his principal, the governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

This is so because there have been series of demarketing of the deputy governor ever since he decided to approach a Federal High Court for protection over mere heresay.

Just few days ago, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, echoed earlier statement made by Obaseki that there was no plan to impeach Shaibu and asked people to disregard such rumours as it it not true.

According to him, “There was no time that the governor called me and instructed me that there must be an impeachment move against the Deputy Governor. The rumour of impeachment is from the pit of hell. I want to let Edo people know today that till tomorrow, the governor has not called to say the deputy governor should be impeached, next tomorrow is coming and I don’t think the governor will say that to us.”

The Speaker further noted, “When I approached the governor, he asked if there’s anything of such? He asked what the impeachment is for?  I told him there is no such plan. Nothing of such is going on. On my own, I called the Deputy Governor to tell him that there is nothing like an impeachment plan by the Assembly and what he heard was rumour.”

Agbebaku continued, “Today, I want to let Edo people know that the story about the impeachment of the Deputy Governor is just mere rumour as the governor has no such plans today, tomorrow, and forever; the governor doesn’t have such plans.

“This will be our second courtesy call to you (Governor). We are here to remind you that what we came to tell you in our first courtesy call, we are standing by it. We are resolute to follow in your footsteps and ensure you finish well. It is our responsibility as members of our various constituencies to give you the backing to finish well and strong.

“I also want to thank you for your resilience and for the rumors making you address the press as we don’t need that now but what we need is to make Edo people happy. We are here to support you and ensure you finish strong.

“The 24 members of the EDHA are all here to let you know that we will join you to finish strong as Edo people must live a good life and you are already setting the pace.”

Unfortunately in all of this, the Edo State deputy governor has not come up to tell the world where the impeachment plot was hatched, and those to execute the alleged planned removal.

For more than three weeks since the said removal plot came to light, Shaibu has been in and out of the country. It is either he is still on vacation overseas or he may have come back but decides to stay back in Abuja.

Therefore, when information reached the public space that he was going to watch the Bendel Insurance opening match with the Algerian side in one of the continent’s trophy titles, there was some respite that at least the rift between him and the governor is over.

Again, the said rival ended as a rumour mill. It was gathered that some of his loyalists just reeled out the information to test both government and public reactions. They were not disappointed after all because of the two related incidents that took place.

Last Thursday, at the Samuel Ogbemidia Stadium in Benin City, there was reported  fighting between elements from both camps of the governor and the deputy.

An eye witness account at the scene pinned the squabble on the rumoured return of the deputy whom he said was coming to watch the match between Bendel Insurance FC and ASO Chief of Algeria.

It was gathered that in the course of that the atmosphere in the stadium complex that very day became very rowdy and frightening as all of a sudden, some rough looking chaps gained entrance into the edifice and made straight to the generator room where some technicians were handling some electrical faults.

It was reported that before you could appraise the presence of the foreign faces at the stadium there were exchange of blows, kicks and throws as is usual in some contact sports and the outcome was serious bodily injury to some individuals from the two sides.

Not only that, the suspected hoodlums were alleged to have swooped on the Permanent Secretary of the state Sports Commission (ESSC) Sabina Chikere, an in-law of the embattled deputy governor and molested her before making away with some of her personal belongings, including cash.

A source who confided in THISDAY, disclosed further that in the melee, some of the onlookers not in the know of what was happening took to their heels for safety in nearby hideouts within the stadium complex.

The allegation is that Governor Obaseki’s supporters reportedly stormed the stadium in a move to stop alleged move by Chikere to move some vital equipment and documents out of the sports complex to an unknown destination.

Although attempts to reach the two parties involved was unsuccessful as all calls made to their cell phones were unanswered, Obaseki, on Friday, was reported to have redeployed the said Shaibu’s in-law, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, from Sports Commission to Central Administrative Department, Government House in Benin City.

Before her redeployment, Mrs Chikere, was also the General Coordinator of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

This development, sources said, may not be unconnected with the feud between Governor Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu which came barely 24 hours to Bendel Insurance match against ASO Chief of Algeria, billed for Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday.

The former Insurance general coordinator, it would be recalled, is the elder sister to the wife of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Maryann Philip-Shaibu.

It was learnt that Mrs. Chikere’s rise to the position of Permanent Secretary was allegedly influenced by her brother in-law as she was not known to be a core civil servant in any of the state ministries, departments or agencies.

Recently, Comrade Shaibu approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, and seek amongst others, an order restricting Governor Obaseki, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State and others from commencing his alleged impeachment processes.

This development, it was further learnt, angered Obaseki, who did not only refute the allegations but also accused his deputy of crying wolf where there is none.

Prior to the imbroglio between the two top principal actors in the state, Obaseki had saddled his deputy with the responsibility of overseeing Sports as well as the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), majorly from the 18 local government areas of Edo.

This latitude to operate, as further learnt, was responsible for why the deputy governor’s wife was alleged to be the one who oversees the collections from the local government areas.

An insider who is close to the system even hinted that Shaibu’s wife’s outfit allegedly collects these IGRs on behalf of government at certain agreed percentage.

This is now a thing of the past because of the rift and bad blood that now exist between the two former friends now sworn enemies.