A socio-cultural organisation under the aegis of Afemai Vanguard has accused the Edo state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu as being responsible for the omission of commissioner-nominees from the three Etsako local government areas of the state.
In a statement signed by the group’s convener, Harrison Igbafe, the group
alleged that the slots for commissioners in the three local government areas were not filled because Shaibu did not attend meetings for the nominations.
The three Etsako local governments are Etsako West with headquarters in Auchi, Etsako Central with headquarters in Fugar and Etsako East, Agenebode.
The statement came few hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki swore in 15 state commissioners.
According to Igbafe, “Meetings were called and the Deputy Governor, Shaibu, did not attend. It is not known what the reasons are, but his absence was what resulted in the area not having commissioners.
“We expect that the meetings will be held and commissioners would eventually be appointed into the cabinet from the three Etsako local government areas,” he said.
However, spokesman for the deputy governor, Mr. Musa Ebomhiana, denied the allegations, declaring that Shaibu “had no knowledge of a meeting nor boycotted any.
Musa said: “There was no meeting called that he did not attend. You don’t need to call meeting before you know who to represent you in the three local government areas as leader of Edo North in PDP.
“He (Shaibu) knows those who are qualified and fit to be commissioners. So, he doesn’t need to attend meetings to decide that.”