Francis Ogbuagu 
Edo State Government yesterday urged permanent secretaries, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agenciess to ignore order from reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu has recently ordered heads of government agencies to guard against looting of public property by political appointees of the Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
Recall that Shaibu was impeached on the 8th of April, 2024 by the Edo State House of Assembly over alleged gross abuse of office and revealing of official secrets but he was reinstated by the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The state government and the House Assembly appealed the ruling with a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, Abuja but Shaibu has been inspecting ongoing projects in his capacity as the deputy governor against government insistence that he has been impeached.
The state government in press statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project, Mr. Crusoe Osagie said Shaibu remains impeached.
The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the very ridiculous statement purportedly signed by the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, in which he warned permanent secretaries and heads of MDAs to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees.
“We want to restate that Philip Shaibu remains impeached as the deputy governor of Edo State until the determination of the court and therefore lacks the power and authority to issue directives or warnings to permanent secretaries, heads of MDAs, or any staff under the employment of the Edo State Government.
“We urge all Edo workers to disregard the infantile ramblings of the impeached deputy governor and continue with their lawful duties without fear of intimidation and harassment while ensuring the delivery of quality and effective service to the people of Edo State.” He said.
