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The rift between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Philip Shaibu worsened yesterday.
Shaibu stormed out of the venue of a stakeholders’ colloquium following an allegedly attack on his media crew by the governor’s security aides.
The government announced the disbandment of the crew last night.
The colloquium was organised by the Obaseki administration to mark the 60th anniversary Midwest referendum and the 32nd anniversary of the creation of Edo State from the defunct Bendel State.
The two-in-one event, with the theme: “60 years after the referendum: Which way midwest?” was held at Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin, the state capital, within the premises of the state government-owned Nigerian Observer newspaper on Airport Road.
Our correspondent learnt that Shaibu’s media crew was attacked midway into the programme by the security operatives while Obaseki, top government functionaries and guests had taken their seats.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Andrew Okungbowa and a Public Relations Officer in the governor’s office, Ms. Osarumwense Margaret Ojo, were introducing Shaibu’s media crew when the security personnel attached to Obaseki’s office forced them out of the venue.
With his pleas unheeded by the personnel, the deputy governor said he could not be in an event where his media crew was barred.
The governor reportedly expressed shock at the weekend over the resumption of his deputy, who returned from the United States (U.S.) after his vacation.
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Obaseki, it was rumoured, was contemplating to relocate Shaibu’s office to avoid his deputy.
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Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Ebomhiana Musa declined comment when asked for reaction.
“I have no comment, because I was not at the venue of Monday’s event at Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City,” he said.
He later reacted to the disbandment of the media crew.
Wielding the big stick on Shaibu’s media crew, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, announced its disbandment
In a statement, Nehikhare said: “Edo State government has disbanded the media crew attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor, with a directive to the Deputy Governor to henceforth request the Ministry of Communication and Orientation for media coverage of activities of his office.
“This directive followed the ugly and unfortunate incident that happened during the colloquium held to mark the 60th anniversary of Midwest referendum and celebration of 30 years of creating Edo State from the defunct Bendel State, held at Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Soundstage, where some journalists, who claimed to be the media crew of the Deputy Governor, attempted to force their way into the hall, where the governor and other invited dignitaries were already seated.
“This act was contrary to the accredited protocol that had been established for the media coverage of the event. The orchestrated and stage-managed walkout, and disruption is highly regrettable.”
But the deputy governor said the commissioner twisted the fact. He reacted reacting through his spokesman Ebomhiana Musa.
He described the commissioner’s claim as “silly, senseless, white and ridiculous lies against him and his media crew”.
Shaibu stated that he and his media crew were already inside the venue and never breached protocol or attempted to force their way into the hall.
