Key Points
- Police seal Edo deputy governor’s office over alleged disputes.
- Some of the staff were transferred to John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Agency.
- Increased security deployment with governor Obaseki as relations are tense.
Police officers closed the office of Edo State Deputy Governor Osadebe Avenue in Benin City on Sunday as tensions escalated between Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki. The development follows Shaibu’s eviction from the Government House earlier this year due to ongoing confrontations with the governor.
Witnesses said that police shut the entry gate to the office. A police truck with a machine gun stood near the door. Three armed police officers patrolled the compound to ensure security. Authorities had earlier moved the sealed office from the Government House in Benin during Shaibu’s political crisis with Governor Obaseki.
Staff relocation and office closure
Officials closed the office on the outskirts of the Kiev region a few years ago, transferring all employees to Kiev headquarters.
Last week, officials instructed the staff of the deputy governor’s office to begin working at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Agency (JOOPSA). The Press Crew bus and other vehicles belonging to the deputy governor moved to the Head of Service office inside Government House on Osadebe Avenue.
When asked, an employee from the deputy governor’s office said, “They told us to report to JOOPSA last week. We began early on Friday and will continue tomorrow.” Another staff member, who preferred not to be named, mentioned that civil servants must follow orders from their bosses.
Increased security during tension
According to The Punch, Police accompanied three men to Shaibu’s office following weeks of tension between Shaibu and Obaseki, leading to public disagreements and staff reshuffling.
The rivalry between the two political leaders has become a significant concern in Edo State politics, affecting governance and administrative order. Although the reason for sealing the office remains undisclosed, it has intensified the existing antagonism between Shaibu and Obaseki, sparking serious debate about their working partnership.
