Reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, late yesterday evening, said the gun attack against him on Thursday was an assassination attempt orchestrated by the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu, who was reacting to the state government’s claim that he planned the attack that took the life of Inspector Akor Onuh at the exit of the Benin Airport, told journalists in Benin that he was taken aback by the attack, adding that he has in the last one year avoided calling for a protest to avoid confrontation with state government and their agents.
He disclosed that he has instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie for defamation.
He expressed surprised that Nehikhare and Osagie were insisting that he remained impeached, because they failed to study the court judgement before sending out their responses, which he said, is their mode of operation.
Shaibu explained that the judgement reinstating him was declarative and has to be carried out before an appeal over the matter could be heard, adding that the stay of judgment execution filed by the state cannot see the light of the day until the judgement is executed.
“I can tell you that Thursday attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute to vie for the position of the governor.
“They said I was the one who planned the attack but I came in peacefully from Abuja to the state capital. Why were the armed thugs laying ambush for me? Were they expecting a visitor?
“I have already instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.
“I have resumed, recalled all my staffs and I will be working from home in order to prevent any confrontation. I remain the deputy governor. All salary and entitlement will be paid”, Shaibu stated.
But Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has denied Shaibu’s allegation that Governor Godwin Obaseki planned the attack.
He claimed that the thugs who shot at people and killed the Police Inspector were mobilised by Shaibu, saying that they were supporters and thugs who were at the airport to welcome their boss.
“The accusation is nonsense. How can Shaibu say that the governor planned the attack against him. It is his thugs who he mobilized that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman.
“Having realized the enormity of what has happened, he is now running around to clear his name. But we all know that his thugs were the ones who carried out the attack.
“He was the one who ignored the plea by the CP to remain calm due to the appeal and stay of judgement execution which the government got.
“We have videos of his thugs causing mayhem in the city on Thursday and he should be made to answer for his deeds”, Nehikhare said.
