The frosty relationship between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, has taken yet another twist with an attempt by the governor to relocate his deputy’s office to a building outside the Government House.
The new office, it was gathered, is situated on No. 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue, close to the Government House.
The building was formerly the office of the Edo State Public Procurement Office, which was inaugurated by former governor Adams Oshiomhole on December 16, 2014.
THISDAY gathered that a signpost with the inscription, ‘Office of the Deputy Governor’ has been erected at the entrance and workers were seen renovating the building and clearing the compound.
One of the workers handling the renovation who did not give his name, said that the job is expected to be delivered on Monday.
He added that he was not aware of what the building was going to be used for and had no idea about how the signboard was placed at the entrance.
“I work for the company handling this renovation of this building. Our job is to deliver the project on Monday as agreed. I do not know how the sign board got to the entrance of the building and I don’t have any idea of what the building will be used for,” he added.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said: “If there is a government signboard saying so, then it must be so.”
The relationship between Obaseki and his deputy collapsed following Shaibu’s alleged clandestine plots to undermine the authority of the governor.
Recall that the state government had last Monday disbanded the media crew attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor, with a directive to Shaibu to henceforth request the Ministry of Communication and Orientation for media coverage of activities of his office.
Before then, there was a mild drama last Sunday at the church service to mark the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the state, as a security operative attached to the governor, stopped Shaibu from approaching his principal.
As the deputy governor approached Obaseki who was seated beside his wife, Betsy, and the representative of the Delta State Governor, Charles Aniagwu, to greet them, he was embarrassed by a security operative who stopped him within two metres away from the governor.
Governor Obaseki looked the other way as Shaibu explained himself to the security operative who firmly, but in a friendly tone, kept the deputy governor away.
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
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