Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu, Reporting
In a move that is likely to escalate existing tensions, Edo State Government officials took down the security post stationed outside the residence of former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu on Sunday.
Reportedly, the demolition was carried out by the Edo State Network and Public Works Volunteers. A source within one of the agencies, speaking anonymously, justified the removal by stating that Shaibu is no longer a public official and therefore ineligible for such security measures.
This action comes just a week after Shaibu’s impeachment by the State House of Assembly on accusations of leaking confidential information and perjury. Shaibu has since contested the impeachment in court, arguing that it is motivated by his political ambitions to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki.
However, the Edo State Ministry of Roads and Bridges, which has been implicated in some online reports, refuted any involvement. Commissioner Eta Uzamere firmly denied his ministry’s role in the demolition.
An aide to Shaibu vehemently contested the official narrative, asserting that the security post was not government-funded but built by Shaibu himself. The aide condemned the action as vindictive on the part of the state government.
This latest development adds another layer of controversy to the ongoing saga surrounding Shaibu’s impeachment. It remains to be seen whether the courts will reinstate Shaibu and how this incident will affect the already strained relationship between the former deputy governor and the Edo State government.