Shaibu opens up on rift with Governor Obaseki

Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shaibu has finally opened up on the frosty relationship between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing his principal of using security officials to harass him and humiliating him.

The cold war between him and Obaseki blew open yesterday with the latter going public with alleged serial humiliation he has been subjected to by his principal over the last one month.

Shaibu claimed he has even been penciled down for impeachment by the governor through the State House of Assembly.

Immediate relief however came the way of the deputy governor after the Federal High Court Abuja, to which he ran for intervention, ordered status quo ante bellum pending when the respondents in the suit will be able to show cause why they should not be restrained.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in the certified true copy (CTC) of the motion which was seen yesterday, asked the plaintiff and the defendants to allow things to remain the way they were before the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023 was filed.

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The defendants are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), the Edo State Governor, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State.

Justice Mohammed said: “It is hereby directed that parties shall maintain status quo ante bellum pending when the defendants have shown cause as directed by the court in its ruling of 27/07/2023.”

The judge directed the issuance of hearing notices in the IGP, SSS and the Governor (who were not represented in court by any lawyer) and adjourned till August 10.

Shuaibu said he incurred the wrath of the governor after expressing his interest to contest the next governorship election in the state on the platform of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

The deputy governor said that sequel to his public declaration to seek the PDP governorship ticket, Obaseki has been denying him opportunity to function in his official capacity, including threatening to withdraw his security details.