There is tension at the Edo State Government House in Benin City over alleged plans by Philip Shaibu to resume in his office as Deputy Governor.
Bellnews reports that security has been beefed up within the premises of Government House located at Dennis Osadabey Avenue, Benin City.
It was gathered that the security beef up is aimed at stopping Shaibu from resuming office.
As part of security measures, the state government has banned vehicles including those of Government House staff from entering Osadebe Avenue.
During a visit to the area on Monday, Bellnews observed that visitors and civil servants parked their vehicles by the roadside and walked long distances to their offices.
Men of the Nigeria Police and the state-owned Police Constabulary mounted a roadblock at the entrance gate.
DAILY POST recalls that on July 17, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice J. K. Omotosho, reinstated Shaibu as the Edo State Deputy Governor.
The court had also last week, rejected a motion filed by the Edo State Government and the House of Assembly for a stay of execution of the reinstatement order.
The State House of Assembly had on March 18, 2024, impeached Shaibu as the deputy governor of the state, and in his stead, Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed and swore-in Engineer Godwins Marvellous Omobayo as the deputy governor.
Speaking to DAILY POST on Monday, some civil servants who spoke on condition of anonymity described the security beef up at the Government House as surprising.
“We were surprised to see heavy security in and around the Government House on resumption at the office.
“Election has ended and we expected to see a very more peaceful state,” they said.
The Edo State Government had on Sunday, in a statement, alleged that Shaibu had perfected plans to invade the Government House on Monday, September 30, to enforce his purported reinstatement despite the fact that a stay of execution appeal has been filed challenging Justice J. K. Omotosho’s ruling.
The statement by Mr Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Government on Media Projects, called on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his alleged plot.
Osagie opined that the plot was a clear recipe for chaos, given the fact that a policeman was killed the last time Shaibu attempted such action.
“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 the 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 stated.
Reacting to the statement, Shaibu denied the allegation, saying the reality was yet to dawn on Obaseki that he and his followers have been rejected by Edo people.
Shaibu, who reacted through his media aide, Mr Ebomhiana Musa, noted that unlike Obaseki, he (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.
“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood for whatever reason.
“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.”
He called on the public to ignore the allegation, describing it as fake news spread by Obaseki’s spokesperson.