Edo: Impeached Dep. Gov. Shaibu, Faces More Crisis As Residence Is Partly Demolished
The political crisis confronting the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu seems far from being over as his former principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki is all out to inflict more damages on him.
This followed the Sunday, April 14, 2024 demolition of the security post of the private residence of Shaibu barely one week after his removal from office as deputy governor.
While Shaibu was in office, the security post of the main residence situated by the Benin Golf Course in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), was always beehive of activities, but suddenly became deserted shortly after the impeachment of the once upon a time, the most powerful deputy governor in the country.
It was gathered that members of the demolition team, believed to be from the Government House, Benin and backed by fully-armed policemen and operatives of the Edo Security Network, without any resistance, pulled down the expensive structures with a bulldozer at about 5:00pm on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
The demolition of the Security post, it was gathered, was a strong message and a clear warning to Shaibu to get prepared for more crises following his unguided utterances and unfavourable comments and moves against the State Government since his impeachment.
Information pieced together by Forefront News, indicated that the policy of demolishing the properties of political opponents in the name of “overall public interest” was conceived and introduced to the State government by Comrade Philip Shaibu, when he held sway as Deputy Governor during which he acted as governor whenever Governor Obaseki was away on foreign trip or on annual leave.
For instance, the hotel built and ready for commissioning by the current Youth Leader of the APC in Edo State, Comrade Tony Kabaka was ordered to be demolished by the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu when he was acting governor of the State.
One of the residents of the imposing property owned by the embattled Shaibu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no notice of demolition given to the former deputy governor to the best of their knowledge.
Shaibu has already filed a case at the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, in which he is challenging his impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Forefront News also gathered that Shaibu, who is on his way out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is only waiting for the outcome of impeachment suit which is expected to come up on April 19, 2024 before he would formally announce his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).