Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has allocated the office of his Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, in Government House, Benin, to the Alaghodaro summit as a secretariat.
Bellnews reports that Alaghodaro, a Benin catchphrase meaning progress or moving forward, is an annual investment drive started by the Edo State Government initiated by Governor Obaseki.
The decision comes despite Obaseki’s previous claims that he was renovating the one-storey building.
In a leaked memo dated September 18, 2023, Obaseki asked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, to “immediately” allocate the deputy governor’s office building to the trustees of the Alaghodaro summit as their secretariat.
The memo states that the office space closest to the venue of the summit, the New Festival Hall of Government House, which until a few days ago was occupied by Shaibu, should be allocated to the board of trustees of the Alaghodaro summit, expected to attract potential investors from different parts of Nigeria.
Shaibu has since been pushed out of Government House and allocated a new office at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin.
Some have interpreted the move as a sign of the growing rift between Obaseki and Shaibu, who are reportedly at odds over the governor’s succession plans.
Recall that Shaibu withdrew his anti-impeachment suit against Obaseki on September 5, 2023, but has remained resolute to succeed him as governor on November 12, 2024.