Obaseki Bares Fangs Again, Refuses To See Deputy Gov Shaibu
- CSO shuns Shaibu, claims ‘order from above’
BY VICTOR BUORO – The Rofo-rofo fight by Governor Godwin Obaseki to fully establish his supremacy over governance affairs in Edo State reached a new height on Monday as the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, was barred from entering the Government House by “order from above”.
Comrade Shaibu, who arrived at the Dennis Osadebay Avenue early on Monday morning, had attempted to force his way into the Governor’s Office but was prevented by Obaseki’s security details.
According to sources familiar with the latest incident, Shaibu had stormed the Government House bent on confronting the Governor who was said not to have arrived for duties yet.
It was gathered that the embattled Deputy Governor insisted on gaining access into Governor Obaseki’s personal office and all entreaties by the security operatives for him to kindly retreat and rather call his principal on phone were rebuffed.
The insider further stated that instead of heeding the advice, Comrade Shaibu resorted to shaking the iron gate violently, causing a scene with many onlookers expressing fears that he may have come with the of physically attacking the governor.
A State government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the development may not be unconnected with the State Deputy Governor being locked out of his office in the Government House on Monday.
Reports indicated that the gates leading to Comrade Shaibu’s office as well as the main entrance to the storey building had chains and heavy padlocks on them
Shocked by the development and trying to unravel what was going on, the Deputy Governor and his aides spent about an hour outside before driving off in anger.
Sources close to Comrade Shaibu hinted that frantic efforts by him to reach Governor Obaseki proved unfruitful even as he could only access the State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Services (DSS) for discussion while alerting them on the “embarrassing development”.
It was also gathered that in the ensuing confusion, Comrade Shaibu summoned the Government House Commandant, Ibrahim Babatunde, (SP) to enquire the reasons for being locked out of his office only to be informed that it was a directive from above.
Babatunde is quoted as telling the Deputy Governor that the Government House’s Chief Security Officer (CSO). Wabba Williams would be in a better position to explain the position of things.
However, insiders further hinted that Shaibu got more frustrated after reaching out to Williams who promised to be with him shortly but never showed up until the Deputy Governor drove off from the area with his aides.
