Edo State: Obaseki Moves To Forcefully Retrieve Vehicles From Former Deputy, Shaibu

From Imafidon OSAZUA (Benin)

The political battle between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki,  and the estranged Deputy, Philip Shaibu, has taken a new dimension as the former allegedly tried to tried to retrieve vehicles from the campaign office of the later.

Shuibu is accused of going away with over 20 vehicles that was in custody as deputy governor.

The deputy governor, who was impeached after falling out with Governor Godwin Obaseki, over his ambition to succeed his principal, donated the vehicles to the All Progressives Congress campaign committee.

Irked by the move, the state government ordered Shaibu, in an advert published in a national daily on Tuesday, to return the 22 vehicles  in his custody within seven days, noting that the vehicles were attached to the office of the deputy governor.

Sunny Okomayin, one of Shuaibu's confidant disclosed that there was attempt to forcefully retrieve the vehicles on Thursday, alleging that a security outfit run by the state government stormed the premises but were prevented by security agencies who were guiding Shaibu's office situated on Airport Road, Benin City.

He stated that efforts were being made to relocate the vehicles to a location close to the Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Government Reservation Area.

He said: "I can't confirm to you that there were attempts on Wednesday night to forcefully take away vehicles from the campaign office of Philip Shaibu.

"But members of the security outfit that were assigned the job were sent back by the security operatives guarding the premises and efforts are being made to relocate the vehicles."

However, a government official, who pleaded anonymity, described the allegation as spurious, saying  the state government does not act rashly. 

The source said: "The allegation is wrong and the state government does not act in that manner. There are procedures that will be taken if the seven days ultimatum given the former elapses without him returning the vehicles."