Friday was a day of cross-fire accusations in Edo State as the political crisis over the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state festered with the embattled deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, accusing his entranced principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, of being the brain behind the Thursday’s shooting on Airport Road.
Shaibu did not stop at mere accusation of Obaseki planning the attack, he said he was the target of the shooting, accusing the governor of planning to assassinate him.
Governor Obaseki, has, however, responded denying the allegation, adding that Shaibu was responsible for the fracas because he brought thugs to the state to cause mayhem.
Shaibu’s convoy, in company of the governorship candidate of the All Progresives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, was attacked immediately after the duo drove out of the Benin Airport upon their arrival from Abuja, where Shaibu secured the court judgement which voided his April 8, 2024, impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Addressing a cross section of journalists on Friday while reacting to the state government’s claim that he planned the attack that took the life of Inspector Anuh Ako, during the shooting, Shaibu expressed surprise at the attack.
The deputy governorsaid that he had in the last one year restrained himself from calling for a protest to avoid confrontation with state government and their agents.
He noted that he had also instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and the Special Adviser to the governor Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, for defamation of character.
This was just as added that he was not surprised that Nehikhare and Osagie were insisting that he remained impeached, accusing them of not studying the court judgement before sending out their responses, which he said, is their mode of operation.
He stated that the judgement reinstating him was declarative and had to be carried out before an appeal over the matter could be heard, while the stay of judgement execution filed by the state would nott see the light of the day until the judgement was executed.
“I can tell you that Thursday attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute to vie for the position of the governor.
“They said I was the one who planned the attack but I came in peacefully from Abuja to the state capital. Why were the armed thugs laying ambush for me? Were they expecting a visitor?
“I have already instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.
“I have resumed, recalled all my staffs and I will be working from home in order to prevent any confrontation. I remain the deputy governor. All salary and entitlement will be paid,” he added.
Obaseki didn’t plan attack against Shaibu, says commissioner
Reacting to the accusation, Governor Obaseki, through his Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, denied allegation that he planned the attack.
Nehikhare noted that the thugs who shot at people and killed the police inspector were mobilised by Shaibu.
The commissioner insisted the those responsible for the shooting were supporters and thugs who were at the airport to welcome their boss.
“The accusation is nonsense. How can Shaibu say that the governor planned the attack against him. It is his thugs who he mobilized that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman.
“Having realized the enormity of what has happened, he is now running around to clear his name. But we all know that his thugs were the ones who carried out the attack.
“He was the one who ignored the plea by the CP to remain calm due to the appeal and stay of judgment execution which the government got.
“We have videos of his thugs causing mayhem in the city on Thursday, and he should be made to answer for his deeds.” Nehikhare reiterated.
Reinstated Edo deputy governor, Shaibu appoints aides
Meanwhile, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Philip Shaibu, on Friday approved the reappointment of some principal officers in his office.
Those reappointed are, Mr Kingsley Ehigiamusor, as Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor and Mr Musa Ebomhiana, as his Chief Press Secretary.
The appointments contained, in a statement by Ebomhiana, also announced the appointments of Mr Emmanuel Akhaba, Charles Olubayo, Mustapha Lawal-Omokpe and Matthias Akhanemhe as Senior Special Assistants.
Others reappointed are Mr Obinson Akhenoba and Robert Ojele as Special Assistants.
According to the statement, all the appointments are with immediate effect.
But in a swift reaction, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare described the appointments as “fake”.
Nehikhare said government had observed that some unsigned statements circulating on social media the appointment of certain persons as aides in the office of the deputy governor.
He urged the public to disregard the document, describing it as fake.
“It is part of the provocative actions by the impeached Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, to foment crisis in the state.
“It is clear that the impeached deputy governor is hell-bent on creating a sense of chaos in the state.
“But the state government is resolved to put his antics in check and ensure that the state continues to run smoothly.
“We restate that Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remains the deputy governor of Edo State and the public is enjoined to disregard the fake document and antics of Shaibu,”he said.
He said, ” the government, once again, calls on citizens to be rest assured that we will maintain peace and order as we charge them to go about their lawful businesses.”
