Gov  Godwin Obaseki Deepens Rift With Deputy, Disbands His Press Corps …Cites Breach Of Protocol

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on Monday night deepened rift with his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu 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.

Team@orientactualmags.com  learned that  this was made known  in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Chris Osa Nehikhare on Monday night and he has cited breach of protocol.

‘This directive followed the unfortunate incident that happened during the colloquium held to mark the 60th anniversary of Midwest Referendum, where some journalists, who claimed to be members  of the Deputy Governor’s press corps , attempted to force their way into the hall where the governor and other dignitaries were already seated.

This act was against the accreditation protocol that had been established for coverage of the event.

The orchestrated and stage-managed walkout and disruption is highly regrettable’ he said.

This has come barely 24 hours after  Mr. Philip Shaibu  got a frosty reception when he made an attempt to exchange greetings  with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki at an event held at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin city,   to mark  the 32nd  anniversary of the creation of the state . 

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.

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 welcome the idea of having him as his successor-Team@orientactualmags.com
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