By DADA AYOKHAI
There appears to be no end in sight to the cold war between Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, comrade. Philip Shaibu
During the recent visit of Gov Obaseki to Auchi, Etsako West council headquarters, for the formal swearing-in of the newly appointed Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants, comrade Shaibu was conspicuously absent.
The absence of the deputy governor raised eyebrows. Many of the dignitaries at the ceremony considered comrade Shaibu’s absence as unusual given the chubby relationship that existed between the duo.
Last month, Gov Obaseki made a similar visit to the Owan local government area where he also performed a similar task. Shaibu was equally absent at the event.
However, before the commencement of the Auchi event, there were ominous signs of possible trouble brewing when speculations became rife that the venue of the ceremony was going to be shifted
Usually, Shaibu Hall in Jattu, sitting right inside the expansive compound belonging to the deputy governor, used to host such events and other political activities in the Edo North district in the past.
The final nail in the coffin for Shaibu came in the form of an order to shift the venue of the inauguration of the new political aides to the Etsako West Council Hall in Auchi.
Gov Obaseki also well Igarra, the headquarters of the Akoko Edo local government to perform the same ceremony
Gradually, the Edo State deputy governor is being shoved aside in the state power calculus and the functions he used to perform with some relish have been taken away, thus, rendering him redundant
