Edo State, Nigeria – Tensions flared in Edo State on Monday as Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu was allegedly locked out of his office by Governor Godwin Obaseki, leading to a potential political crisis within the state.
Multiple sources within the government house have confirmed the incident, which took place at the Office of the Governor on Dennis Osadebey Avenue. Eyewitnesses reported that Deputy Governor Shaibu, accompanied by his security aides, arrived early Monday morning with the intention of confronting Governor Obaseki.
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Initially, Shaibu was informed that the governor was not yet in his office, but he insisted on gaining access to the Governor’s personal office. Witnesses say that despite pleas from security operatives to leave and contact the governor for an appointment, Shaibu continued to push at the gate, causing a commotion.
Concerns arose that the situation could escalate, with fears that the deputy governor might physically confront Governor Obaseki. As tensions mounted, sources revealed that the gate to Shaibu’s own office and the main entrance to the government building were both locked with chains and heavy padlocks.
Shaibu and his aides waited for approximately an hour but were unable to make contact with the governor. During this time, the deputy governor reached out to the state Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), alerting them to his predicament.
In a further attempt to resolve the situation, Shaibu summoned the Government House Camp Commandant, Ibrahim Babatunde, seeking an explanation for his exclusion. Babatunde, however, claimed that it was a directive from higher authorities and suggested that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Government House, Williams Wabba, would be better equipped to provide clarification.
Despite Shaibu’s efforts to reach out to Wabba, the CSO did not arrive at the scene, and the deputy governor eventually left, leaving the situation unresolved.
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This incident has raised concerns about the growing tension between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, and its potential implications for the political landscape in Edo State. As the situation unfolds, residents and political observers await further developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
