THERE was impregnable security around Edo State Government House Monday morning, as heavy security was observed following reports that Comrade Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of the state, has concluded arrangements to return to office.
It will be recalled that the Edo State House of Assembly on the 8th of April impeached Comrade Shaibu after being found guilty of disclosure of government secrets.
However, Shaibu argued that the lawmakers failed to grant him a fair hearing before the impeachment, and in a landmark judgment in July, Justice J. K. Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the impeachment, ordering Shaibu’s reinstatement.
The Edo State government, however, has yet to comply with the judgment citing a pending stay of execution.
Meanwhile, access to Osadebe Avenue, the Government House, was today restricted. V Civil servants and visitors had to park their vehicles at a distance and walk to their destinations. The scene raised concerns as civil servants expressed surprise at the heightened security presence.
In a statement on Sunday, Crusoe Osagie, spokesperson for Governor Obaseki, accused Shaibu of planning to forcefully regain access to his office despite the pending appeal.
Osagie called on the Inspector General of Police and Nigerians to intervene, describing Shaibu’s actions as a “recipe for chaos.”
“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 Edo 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 said.
Responding, Shaibu’s spokesperson, Mr Ebomhiana Musa, denied the allegation, saying the reality is yet to dawn on Governor Obaseki that they had been rejected by the Edo people.
“We want to put it clearly here that, 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 whatever reason.
“As it is today, 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. We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us”, he said.
Eighteen-Eleven Media