Edo Governor Takes Fresh Decision On His Deputy’s Office In Govt House

….Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has designated the office of his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, in the Government House, Benin, for use as the secretariat of the Alaghodaro initiative, despite earlier claims of renovating the one-storey building.

Alaghodaro, a Benin expression signifying progress or advancement, is an annual investment campaign by the Edo State Government, an initiative led by Governor Obaseki.

In a leaked memo dated September 18, 2023, Governor Obaseki instructed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, to promptly allocate the deputy governor’s office building to the trustees of Alaghodaro summit as their secretariat.

The chairman of Alaghodaro, through its secretary, had requested a permanent secretariat building from Obaseki to facilitate planning and logistics for the 2023 summit scheduled for the second week of November.

According to the leaked memo, the office space closest to the venue of the summit, the New Festival Hall of Government House, previously occupied by Shaibu, should be allocated to the board of trustees of the Alaghodaro summit, which aims to attract potential investors from various parts of Nigeria.

Shaibu has been relocated from Government House to a new office at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin, with a clear designation “Office of the Deputy Governor, No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City,” at a location not far from the Government House.

At the entrance of the one-storey building, an inauguration plaque is prominently displayed, bearing the inscription: “Edo State Public Procurement Agency – This building was commissioned by His Excellency, The Comrade Governor, Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, MNI, OON, Edo State Governor, on Tuesday, 16th December, 2014.”

Shaibu’s aides and civil servants assigned to his office were relocated two weeks ago, in line with the directive of Edo Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa.

On September 5, Shaibu withdrew his anti-impeachment suit (with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023), but remains resolute in his ambition to succeed Obaseki on November 12, 2024.