Again, Gov Obaseki Proves He’s ‘In Charge’ As Deputy Gov, Aides, Loyalists Hold Mass In Open Field

Philip Shaibu, who is the Deputy Governor of Edo state, made news on Tuesday as he led others to  hold the weekly Tuesday Mass that  had been held  at the Government House Chapel at his instance in an open field.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the mass which was held in the open field of  Shaibu’s new office had in attendance his wife, civil servants attached to his office, some aides and political associates.

In his homily, Rev Fr Emmanuel Egejuru said joy, humility, gratefulness and obedience are characteristics expected from leaders which, he noted, were exemplified by King David in the Bible.

An official in the Chapel said they got a directive from Governor Obaseki’s  Senior Special Assistant  on Religious Matters last Monday ‘to come and remove our things from the chapel, including the station of the cross, the pulpit and other items’.

‘I told him I will inform the deputy governor to know where to relocate the items and we went to remove them the following day. I was shocked when I started hearing that I went to do a video. They ordered us to remove our things, which we did’ he added.

However, Obaseki insisted that nothing like relocation of the chapel had happened, his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, in a statement said the video in circulation was fabricated by mischief makers.

‘It is imperative to state categorically that the Government House Chapel is very much in operation and attending to the spiritual needs of the occupants of the Government House.

It is necessary to note that the governor and his wife are ardent Christians and it is therefore illogical that they will shut down the Chapel in the Government House.

We urge members of the public to disregard the rumour as it bears no iota of truth. The government will continue to promote religious freedom and harmony within the state’ he said.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, who had deepened rift with his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu  last  year by directing that his press corps should be disbanded while requests for media coverage of his activities should henceforth be done through the Ministry of Communication and Orientation,  had also made the Deputy Governor stay away from the Government House , Benin city sequel to the relocation of his office.

The new office  located at No 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue,   had served as office of the Edo state Public Procurement Office which was inaugurated by former governor Adams Oshiomhole, on December 16, 2014.

Obaseki and Shuaib were political godsons of Senator Adams Oshiomole but they parted ways with him ahead of the September 19, 2020, gubernatorial election.

Oshiomole ,who was then the APC National Chairman, had ensured that the governor was disqualified and stopped from getting renominated while Osagie Ize-Iyamu got the mandate to run on the party’s ticket.

Obaseki left the APC for PDP in June 2020 and his deputy, who is Oshiomole’s kinsman, also followed suit.

Shaibu is planning to succeed Obaseki this year and  he has not welcomed the idea of having him as his successor-Team@orientactualmags.com
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