The deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has been locked out of his office located within the Government House at Osadebey Avenue in Benin City.
The development is coming about two weeks after the embattled deputy governor withdrew an “impeachment” suit against Obaseki.
Shaibu was at the office on Monday morning for official duty, but met the gates and entrance to his office under locks.
A visibly embarrassed Shaibu who then alighted from his SUV was seen making calls to a person believed to be the Government House Camp Commandant.
The deputy governor was heard responding saying on the telephone thus: “the governor said they should lock it (office) because they are using the office for something else?
“I was not moved to anywhere. Nobody has given me letter to move. The governor didn’t give me letter. How will I move out of my office.
“I have called the governor, he is not picking. So, you call the governor and tell him that I have not moved. Only the civil servants got letter to relocate. I am told they were given letter by the office of Head of Service (HOS) to move out”.
Shaibu who thereafter waited at the gate however left the government House in company of his aides without response.
Blueprint recalls that Obaseki and his deputy have been engaged in political tussle after the latter approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop Obaseki and the State Assembly from impeaching him- an allegation the governor denied.
He has however withdrawn the litigation, citing interventions from religious leaders and traditional rulers.
Last week, the state government via a memo, redeployed all Staff at the deputy governor’s office to a building located outside the government House.
A visible signboard with the inscription, “Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State” was erected in front of the building.
Asked to react to the development at the time, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said: “if you said you saw a signboard with the inscription, then that’s what it is”.
