Tension In Edo As Security Operatives Surround Govt House

Security operatives, including personnel from the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have surrounded the Edo State Government House in response to reports that Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu was expected to resume office today, Monday, September 30, 2024.

The presence of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) added to the heightened security at the government facility, with efforts aimed at preventing any potential breakdown of law and order.

Staff, journalists, and visitors were prevented from driving into the Government House, being politely asked to leave their vehicles behind and walk through the first gate.

Meanwhile, Philip Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, dismissed claims of any planned invasion of the Osadebe House by the Deputy Governor.

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In a statement, Musa reiterated Shaibu’s commitment to peace and the rule of law, urging Governor Godwin Obaseki to comply with the court orders affirming Shaibu as the Deputy Governor.

Musa stated, “His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving man who believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood.

“As it stands, in the eyes of the law and the people of Edo State, Philip Shaibu remains the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of the state.”

The statement called for calm and criticized those opposed to Shaibu’s return, particularly Governor Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, whom Musa accused of spreading misinformation.

Musa emphasized that the Deputy Governor’s focus is on lawful governance and peaceful resolution, and urged that the electoral results, which saw Asue Ighodalo rejected by the people in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, should be respected by Obaseki and his allies.

The situation remains tense as the standoff at the Government House continues, though no major incidents have been reported so far.