Obaseki, Shaibu Trade Blames Over Assassination Plot, As Latter Files N5billion Defamation Suit Against Gov, Media Aides

The reinstated Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, has pointedly accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of allegedly planning Thursday’s assassination plot to eliminate him, stating that his former boss had vowed to destroy him when he remained resolute in succeeding him as governor of the state.
In a media chat on Friday, Shaibu debunked the allegation by the government that he planned the attack that took the life of Inspector Akor Onuh, one of the security details of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the exit of the Benin Airport. He disclosed that he had already instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare, commissioner for information and orientation and Crusoe Osagie, special adviser to the governor on Media Project, for defamation, stating that they would be served next week.
The government, however, dismissed the accusation as “nonsense”, insisting that “It is his thugs who he mobilised that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman”. The government said it was in possession of “videos of his thugs causing mayhem in the city on Thursday, and he should be made to answer for his deeds”.
While emphasising that he remained the deputy governor, Shaibu told journalists that he had resumed duty but would, however, be working from home to prevent any confrontation. He said he was taken aback by the attack, stating that he had in the last one year avoided calling for a protest to avoid confrontation with the state government and their agents.
He said he was not surprised that Nehikhare and Osagie were insisting that he remained impeached, accusing them of not studying the court judgement before sending out their responses, which he said, was their mode of operation.
Shaibu asserted that the judgement reinstating him was declarative and must be carried out before an appeal in the matter could be heard, adding that the stay of execution of the judgement filed by the state government can not see the light of the day until the judgement is executed.
According to him, “I can tell you that the 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 staff, 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”.
Denying Shaibu’s allegation, Nehikhare said, “the accusation is nonsense. How can Shaibu say that the governor planned the attack against him? It is his thugs who he mobilised that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman. Having realised 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”.