Obaseki Moves Against Deputy, Redeploys Shaibu’s In-law To Govt House

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reportedly directed the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, to the Central Admin Department, Government House in Benin City.

Chikere, who is an in-law to the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, until her recent redeployment, was the General Coordinator of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

The former Insurance general coordinator is the elder sister to Maryann Philip-Shaibu, wife of the deputy governor.

Naija News reports that Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over the latter’s governorship ambition.

Shaibu had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking, amongst others, an order restraining Obaseki, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State, and others from commencing alleged impeachment process against him.

This governor refuted the claim, but the relationship between the two men had degenerated.

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku had also described reports about plans to impeach the Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, as rumours from the pit of hell.

A source, who confirmed the development to the Saturday PUNCH, said the redeployment was not unconnected with the rift between Obaseki and his deputy.

The source said, “Mrs. Chikere’s rise to the position of Permanent Secretary was allegedly influenced by the embattled deputy governor as she (Sabina) was not a core civil servant in Edo and should not have been given the position.”