Mr Philip Shaibu says he has resumed as the Deputy Governor of Edo State and recalled all the aides in his office.
Shaibu said this on Friday in Benin City while stressing that he would be working from home to prevent any confrontation.
”I have resumed, recalled all my staff. I will be working from private residence to prevent any confrontation. I remain the deputy governor. All salaries and entitlement will be paid,” he said.
Shaibu said the Thursday’s gun attack on him and the APC Governorship Candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, was an assassination attempt allegedly orchestrated by the state government.
Shaibu, while reacting to the attack, said he was taken aback by the ugly incident that claimed the life of a police officer.
He noted that he had in the last one year avoided many calls for a protest over his ordeal to forestall any kind of confrontation with state government and its agents.
The state government, through its Commissioner for Communucation and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project, Crusoe Osagie had blamed Shaibu for the mayhem.
The state government alleged that Shaibu allegedly mobilized armed thugs to wait for him at the Benin Airport.
Shaibu said he found the allegation very funny, querying the logic in him mobilising thugs, yet was attacked, leading to the killing of police officer in his convoy.
He noted, however, that he had instituted a N50 billion suit against the Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Commissioner and the media aide for defaming his character.
According to him, it is surprising that Nehikhare and Osagie are insisting that he remained impeached when they have refused to study the court judgment.
He slammed the state government for issuing a statement on the judgment it never reviewed, saying there were many gaps in the administration of the state.
The judgment reinstating him, he said, was declarative and had to be carried out before an appeal could be entertained in the case.
“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 N50 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.
Edo Govt. calls on FG to investigate Benin Airport attack
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has called on the Federal Government to set up a panel to unravel the cause of the shooting that claimed the life of a police officer at Benin Airport gate.
Recall that a police officer attached to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Monday Okpebholo, was on Thursday shot dead during a clash at the exit gate of the Benin airport.
Mr Chris Nehikhare, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, told newsmen on Friday in Benin that the state commissioner of police was a witness to what happened at the Benin Airport.
“Shaibu got judgment and flew to Benin with his friends and before entry Benin he mobilised armed thugs to wait for him at the Benin Airport.
“And on arrival, they unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of Edo state and in the process a police officer was killed and many others were injured.
“The state commissioner of police had intelligence report and went to the airport to caution him not to allow his boys to assemble at the airport or anywhere in the state he defied the advice.
“We had appealed the judgment reinstating him as the deputy governor and filled for stay of execution immediately we got Certified True Copy (CTC); and he was shown the restraining order from the court.
“The CP should be arresting him, because, as it stands today, he is not the deputy governor and has no immunity.
“We are now calling on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to look into the crisis.
“The whole thing happened in the presence of the commissioner of police and he is one of the witnesses,” he said.
Nehikhare disclosed that the state government would no longer fold its arms and watch thugs cause mayhem the state.
He said that efforts were being made to ensure that the violence did not degenerate further, adding that the government was resolute that election would be free and fair in the state.
According to him, the opposition party wants to draw the attention of the Federal government and create the impression of anarchy and call for state of emergency.
He called on the residents of the state to remain calm, adding that government was working round the clock to ensure a peaceful state ahead of the Sept. 21.governorship election.
In his reaction, the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, denied the allegations, stressing that he would never sponsor an attack against himself.
“What happened yesterday was an assassination attempt on my life.
“When I was impeached, Shaibu that you know would have protested on the street of Benin but I decided that I do not want to take people to the street and get them killed.
“So, I decided to use the court to prove that the impeachment was unlawful; but unfortunately, what I tried to avoid by not protesting still happened yesterday.
“And I feel sad about it because am a peaceful person.
“This fight is not about me, but one that is targeted at restoring dignity and respect to the office of the deputy governor,” he said.
He said he never envisaged that he and the governor would be on the path they were currently.
“I thank God that I never betrayed him,’’ he said.
