Aminat Gusanu
In a surprising turn of events, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, found himself locked out of his office on Monday morning at the Dennis Osadebey Avenue seat of power in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident has sparked controversy as it follows a directive to relocate his office, a decision that the deputy governor claims he was not officially informed about.
Upon arriving at his office, Shaibu was confronted with a chained and heavily padlocked entrance.
Despite waiting for an hour and making frantic phone calls to Governor Andrew Obaseki, he was unable to gain access to his workplace.
Sources indicate that Shaibu had prior discussions with the State’s Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Services (DSS), informing them of his office lockout.
In an attempt to unravel the situation, he summoned the Government House camp commandant, SP Ibrahim Babatunde, who cited that the directive to lock his office came from higher authorities, deferring further explanation to the Chief Security Officer (CSO) in the Government House, Wabba Williams.
Despite Shaibu’s attempts to contact Williams, he never received a response while waiting at the gate.
Addressing the situation, Shaibu expressed his frustration, stating, “Up till now, I don’t have any official communication that I should relocate.
The only people that have official communication are my civil servants. The civil servants have official communication, but I don’t. As I am speaking to you now, I am standing by the gate.”
This incident follows a letter purportedly from the office of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, directing Shaibu to relocate to a new office located at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.
Notably, just two weeks ago, a signboard appeared at the former State Procurement Office, indicating the Deputy Governor’s new workplace, a development that Shaibu claims he was not formally informed about.
The locked office and forced relocation have ignited a debate over transparency and communication within the government’s highest ranks
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