The Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, yesterday officially resumed at his new office outside the state Government House in Benin-city.
On a visit to the facility situated at No 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue close to the emergency gate of the Government House in Benin-city, the security man at the gate denied journalists entry as he claimed they did not possess a government house identification card, but some civil servants were sighted already moving into the new office while some workers were sighted still cleaning the compound.
Also sighted were some plain cloth security aides to the deputy governor who drove into the facility and later left.
It was gathered that a memo directing the relocation to the new office was issued last week by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service (HoS) to the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, and a reminder was issued at the weekend.
An aide to Shaibu, while confirming the development, said “We have been told to move and we have started moving today (yesterday). The memo was sent directly to the permanent secretary; it was a two-paragraph memo from the HoS but the civil servants are the ones moving right now. The letter was sent to the permanent secretary so we are waiting for directives. The civil servants are moving today (yesterday) but we may move before the end of the week.”
Shaibu had in June this year instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and other over a move to impeach him.
However, last week, the deputy governor withdrew the suit, saying his decision was to respect the intervention of several individuals, including religious and prominent Edo people as well as the traditional institution, and also appreciated the governor for agreeing on the peace initiatives.
The statement read: “Re: Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023 between Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu and Inspector General of Police (IG), State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State and the Chief Judge of Edo State.
“Arising from the series of meetings held with me and the governor by well-meaning Edolites and indeed Nigerians, including party leaders, traditional rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev’d Dr. Augustine Akubeze, the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, on the issues that led to my going to court on the above-named suit and with due respect to these eminent personalities and leaders whose persuasions and persons I cannot ignore, I, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, have authorised and instructed my solicitors to withdraw the suit forthwith.
“I wish to sincerely thank and appreciate these well-meaning Nigerians, party leaders, traditional rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze, for their kind words, advice and encouragement thus far in ensuring peace and unity in our dear Edo State. I also wish to place on record my special thanks to the governor, my boss, and my senior brother, for this path of peace.”
THISDAY
