Fijabi Olanrewaju
REINSTATED deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu has issued a stern warning to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees, as they would be held accountable by the incoming administration for any assets missing under their watch.
Comrade Shaibu, via post on his social media platforms, emphasized that Permanent Secretaries and Directors must know that it is their responsibility to protect the properties because these political aides (Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Special Advisers/Assistants, and Senior Special Advisers/Assistants) are government appointees who are also leaving on 11 November 2024.
“So, the failure of Permanent Secretaries and heads of these MDAs to act means they will be held responsible for giving an account of their inventories. Removing fixed items and government properties is a crime and unacceptable.
“Permanent Secretaries and heads of MDAs should, therefore, guard against such criminality or face consequences. All political appointees must equally desist from such actions, which may land them in trouble”, he stated.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Comrade Shaibu fell out with Godwin Obaseki following his insistence on contesting the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election. He later lost in the intra-party poll to the eventual candidate, Asue Ighodalo who came second in the general election held on 21 September 2024. This led to his impeachment and reinstatement by the court.
He later returned to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Eighteen-Eleven Media