The office of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, located on Osadebe Avenue in Benin City, was sealed off by heavily armed policemen on Sunday, intensifying the ongoing rift between Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki. The development comes amid a prolonged political standoff between the two top officials, which has been playing out publicly for several months.
The office, which Shaibu had been relocated to following his fallout with Governor Obaseki, was visibly under lockdown with the entrance gate firmly shut. A police truck equipped with a mounted machine gun and manned by three policemen stood guard outside the gate, signaling a serious escalation in the power struggle.
This is the latest in a series of actions seemingly aimed at sidelining the embattled deputy governor. As of Friday, staff members from Shaibu’s office were reportedly directed to report to the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) instead of their usual workplace. Additionally, the official vehicles belonging to the Deputy Governor’s office, including the bus assigned to the Press Crew, have been reassigned to the office of the Head of Service within the Edo State Government House.
A staff member from the Deputy Governor’s office confirmed the changes. “We are civil servants, so we follow instructions,” the official said on Sunday. “On Thursday, we were told to report to JOOPSA, and that is where we resumed on Friday. We’ll be continuing there tomorrow (Monday).”
The sealing of the office is widely perceived as a symbolic and practical step to strip Shaibu of his administrative powers. The timing of the action further suggests that the crisis between the Governor and his Deputy is reaching its peak, raising questions about the future of the state’s leadership.
