Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has imposed a condition on accepting his Deputy Hon. Philip Shaibu’s public apologies. The Governor, who returned from a holiday abroad over the weekend, stated that he has no business dealing with Shaibu until the latter demonstrates complete commitment to him.
Recall that on Obaseki’s orders, the deputy Governor, Shaibu, was locked out of his office in the Government House on Osadebey Avenue in Benin City, last week. This incident prompted the deputy governor to publicly apologize to the Governor, who has refused to interact with him for the past month.
Before returning to Nigeria from his abroad trip, Obaseki directed that all members of Exco convene in Lagos for a two-day meeting with him. He insisted on neither inviting or informing the Deputy Governor of the meeting. The event was dubbed “Exco Retreat with Mr. Governor”…
Last Saturday, arrangements were made for those invited to the meeting to arrive in Lagos. Members of EDHA reportedly had theirs a fortnight ago in Rwanda. Obaseki told members of his select cabinet prior to the meeting that, in order for him to forgive Shaibu, the latter must publicly withdraw from the governorship contest.
Obaseki further stated that if the Deputy participates in the upcoming Peoples Democratic Party, PDP primaries, his security vote will be revoked and he will be barred from all government operations, including meetings of the Edo State Executive Council.
The State Executive Council meeting for this week took place in Lagos today, Monday the 25th, as a preliminary to making good on his threat.
However, with the exception of the Deputy Governor, all Exco members were invited to the meeting. Interestingly, to prevent public criticism, Gov. Obaseki directed his handlers to schedule an Exco lecture, a day before the meeting so that third parties might attend and the meeting would not be regarded as a formal but emergency Exco meeting.
Asuen Ighodalo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Alaghodaro and the Governor’s handpicked candidate for the gubernatorial race next year, was also invited to the scheduled Exco seminar held in Lagos.
According to a source who reportedly attended the seminar, “It is expected that the Governor will unveil and introduce his successor to all exco members in Lagos this week.”