Deputy Gov Stopped From Exchanging Greetings With Gov Obaseki At Church Service In Benin…No Cause For Alarm- Sylvester Okungbowa

Edo state Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shuaib  got a frosty reception when he made an attempt to exchange greetings  with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki at an event held in Benin city during the weekend.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that this happened during the Interfaith Thanksgiving Church Service held at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin city,   to mark  the 32nd  anniversary of the creation of the state.

Bendel state, which was created in  1976 , was split into two; Edo and Delta states on August 27, 1991.

The relationship between the governor and his deputy had become frosty since the beginning of this year and the development recorded during the weekend has shown that the situation subsists.

In  viral photos , Obaseki was seen sitting with his wife, Betsy Obaseki while a security agent standing  in front of him prevented Shuaib from going near his boss.

Shaibu later told journalists that he remains loyal to Obaseki, adding that his loyalty however has nothing to do with his plans to join the 2024 Edo state gubernatorial race.

‘My loyalty to the governor remains absolute. I see that everybody is in solidarity. I am also in solidarity with the governor. I am also declaring my unalloyed loyalty to the governor and nothing more.

As for the issues that are around town when I was away, I really would not want to talk about them, especially about the governor. He is my elder brother and boss and I don’t think I should talk about anything.

I can tell you that from my Christian background if you make a vow with God that you want to do something, you must fulfill it. And the vow I have taken with God is that I will continue to support Godwin Obaseki as the governor of Edo state from the beginning to the end’ he said.

‘Whatever happened during the Church service was not at the behest of the governor, neither was he aware what the security aides were doing; in fact, the security aides were doing their job.

Besides, the governor was not aware that the deputy was coming to greet him.

The Church is a public event, so the security aides had a duty to safeguard their principal’  the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sylvester Okungbowa, also submitted.

Governor Obaseki had  told journalists during the visit of  Edo North leaders to the Government House, Benin city, a few days ago,  that no one was planning to impeach the deputy governor  but however alleged that Philip has been holding meetings with APC bigwigs both at the national and state levels.

Talking to journalists  in Benin city during his condolence visit to the family of the late Esogban of Benin kingdom, Chief David Edebiri two days later , Senator Adams Oshiomole  however made it clear that the APC is a no-go area for Shaibu adding that he has never seen a situation where the court passes a judgment based on suspicion.

He had said this in reference to the lawsuit instituted by Philip to stop the house of assembly from impeaching him.

 Oshiomole, who is Governor Godwin Obaseki’s immediate predecessor , is currently  the representative of Edo North in the senate and he has submitted that the APC ‘is not a rehabilitation centre for failed, disgruntled and disloyal politicians’.

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 next year and it has become obvious that his boss will not support the idea of having him as his successor-Team@orientactualmags.com
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