The impeached deputy governor of Edo State, now reinstated by a High Court, Mr. Philip Shaibu, in an interview on Channels TV, spoke on political developments in the state among other issues especially what happened a day after the court judgment, stated that, “it is very unfortunate and I wish the family of the slain police officer accept my condolences and pray that God grants him eternal rest. It’s very sad. It was very unfortunate when we arrived Benin Airport and CP was waiting for me actually because I spoke to him the previous day about the judgment and for enforcement and he promised he was going to his best and when I was leaving I called that I was leaving and he actually waited for me at the airport. And we had our discussions and they said everything was fine and I left.

“So on our way out, we were told that some persons blocked the gate; both gates of the airport and that some thugs were blocking the gate from allowing us to access the airport. It took almost 30 minutes waiting for a place to be cleared; the soldiers, the airport soldiers were there, I think they eventually opened the gates and we now passed, and immediately we got to airport road, we were welcomed with gun shots, sporadic gun shots by the vigilante network and thugs that were arranged by the state government, and it was very unfortunate and that led to the slain police officer and a passer-by. Some wounded supporters, it was very unfortunate.

“I’m not shocked that, that happened because I know that is synonymous to them and that’s why if you watch all through, for over one year this crisis began, I made sure I avoid going to the street to protest. In fact, I spent my time and money to stop my people from going to protest on the street because I know it will lead to death because I know what these characters around the governor can do. And that’s why if you check, many people say that Philip is no longer protesting, he is so quiet because I didn’t want to, my mind tells me if I allow my people to go and protest the injustice to protest meted to me for the past one year, there will be deaths and that’s why I took the Legal means to drive home my point and fight for my right. But even at that, yesterday I got Intel that the governor has told his men that they must not allow me into town. But I’m a free born of Edo State.

“Nobody can stop me from entering Edo State, the constitution does not allow anybody to bar me from entering Edo State, not even when I’m the deputy governor. Even if I’m a common man, I shouldn’t be barred from entering my state, that’s what the constitution says, but I didn’t know that he will arm them that much. I just remember the governor saying, when this crisis begun, when I declared to contest for the governor, he said if I continue he will destroy me; he used the word “if you continue I will destroy you”, so with what happened yesterday, it was obvious that it was an assassination attempt to actualize that statement he made that he was going to destroy me, and I’ve gone to Mother Mary. I’m a Catholic, I have prayed to God that only God that can destroy man, that’s why I decided that I will fight and see the end of this election campaign and everything and I made up my mind to contest it and even when they did the purported impeachment, I made up my mind I was going to fight for the sanctity and sanity of the office of deputy governor so that by the time it’s completely over, everyone would believe,” he added.

He added that “I have resumed the office I was before the purported impeachment. I have written to the governor that I’m back and I’m restating all my political appointees to the office, not that I’m doing fresh appointment, because the judgment said the office of the deputy governor was never vacant, so I have started work where they left me before.

We have two Emirs in Kano, in Rivers we have two State Assemblies, in Edo, two deputies….

No, there are no two deputies in Edo State.” (Story adapted from Daily Sun)

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