‘Renovation ongoing’ — Shaibu’s office moved outside Edo government house

The Edo government has relocated the office of Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of the state, to a building outside the government house, TheCable can report.

A government official who pleaded not to be named confirmed the development to TheCable.

He said the relocation of the deputy governor’s office was due to the ongoing renovation of the Government House where Shaibu’s and the governor’s offices are located.

The source added that Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo, will also be doing “skeletal work in his office until the renovation is completed”.

“Yes, they are preparing a new place for him. The state is renovating the office of the governor and that of the deputy,” the government official said.

“And that is why they are preparing a new place for him (the deputy governor) and his team. Even the governor will be doing skeletal work in his office until it is completed. So that is the position of things.

“The new office was supposed to be ready this weekend but the contractor is yet to hand over the property yet. When the contractor does, the state government will make a statement on it.” 

Over the past few weeks, Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over issues relating to the alleged impeachment plot against the deputy governor.

In July, Shaibu approached a federal high court in Abuja with a suit to prevent the plot. However, Obaseki and Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the Edo house of assembly, denied the alleged impeachment plot.

In early August, Obaseki accused Shaibu of attempting to overthrow him.

On Sunday, a crisis almost erupted at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, when an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) prevented Shaibu from meeting with the governor.