By DADA AYOKHAI
The political rift between the Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, has widened with the latter now compelled to operate from a new office outside of the usual cozy Government House in Benin.
Borderline News24 gathered authoritatively that the embattled deputy governor has reluctantly accepted his fate and has directed his aides to conduct some house cleaning to make the new abode comfortable to carry out state duties
Hon. Shaibu is, according to impeccable government house sources, expected to operate from an exclusive area within the Benin GRA
Like his principal, Hon. Shaibu is on the last lap of an eight-year tenure of two terms.
Hon. Shaibu’s ambition to succeed his boss pitched both men on a war path with the former rushing to the court to secure an exparte order to forestall any attempt to impeach him. Thereafter, he proceeded on his annual vacation outside the shores of the country, only to be trailed by one controversy after the other on his return
Since his return to the country after observing his annual vacation, the deputy governor has had a series of public altercations with his principal.
First, security officials, in the full public glare in the church debarred him from having access to the governor during the Thanksgiving service to mark the 32nd Anniversary of the creation of the Edo State
The next day, at a state function to Mark the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the Midwest region, security officials again denied his media crew access to the venue of the event, and in protest against the manner his team was being treated, Hon. Shuabu stormed out accompanied by his aides and media crew.
Speaking later with newsmen, the embattled deputy governor alluded to his undiluted loyalty to the governor even as he admitted that he indeed nurses the ambition to succeed his principal in 2024.
He reiterated further that his ambition does not in any way diminish his loyalty to the governor, adding, however, that as a well-brought-up lad, it is not in his character to either disrespect or be rude to an elder.
