Obaseki relocates deputy gov’s office amid rift

.NACCIMA hails gov for reforms to transform Edo’s economy

The face-off between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, yesterday, worsened, following the relocation of Shaibu’s office to Osadebey Avenue, in Benin City, near the Government House.  The new Deputy Governor’s Office was the former Edo State Public Procurement Office and was commissioned by former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, on December 16, 2014.

When visited, a security guard denied journalists access to the premises, claiming that they did not possess government house identification cards. But some civil servants were sighted moving into the new office, while some workers were seen still cleaning the compound.

Also sighted were some plain cloth security aides to the deputy governor who drove into the facility and later left.

It was gathered that a memo directing the relocation of the office was issued last week by the Head of Office to the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, and a reminder was issued at the weekend.

An aide to Shaibu, while confirming the development, said: “We have been told to move and we have started moving today. The memo was sent directly to the Permanent Secretary. It was a two-paragraphed memo from the Head of Service (HoS).

“But the civil servants are the ones moving right now. The letter was sent to the Permanent Secretary; so we are waiting for directives.”

The civil servants are moving today, but we may move before the end of the week.”

Meanwhile, National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, has lauded Obaseki for his administration’s progressive economic reforms, which have transformed the state into Nigeria’s petrochemical hub with two operational modular refineries.

In a statement, yesterday, the NACCIMA boss said that Edo State has also been experiencing an influx of investments in various sectors of the state’s economy, which is a testament to the favourable business environment created by the governor.