The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, presented a letter to Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, informing him of his relocation from his current government house office to a new office situated outside the government house premises. This move followed a recent fallout between Shaibu and Governor Obaseki.

A video surfaced on Monday, showing Shaibu stranded at the entrance of his former office, which was locked. He explained to someone on the phone that he was not aware of any directive to relocate to the new office at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, despite civil servants in his office being officially asked to do so.

However, the Deputy Governor has now received a directive to that effect. The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie, sent a memo to Shaibu, stating that Governor Obaseki had directed the Deputy Governor to move to the new office address. The letter was dated September 15, 2023, and was received by a Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office and acknowledged on Monday, September 18, 2023.

The memo, with the heading: “Relocation of Office Accommodation“, reads:

This is to inform you that your office accommodation will be relocated to No. 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue, G.R.A., Benin City, as approved by His Excellency, the Governor. Please ensure compliance with the Governor’s approval.

This memo was sent by the Secretary to the State Government. It is important to note that in August, Shaibu filed a lawsuit in an Abuja Federal High Court, seeking protection against an alleged attempt by the Governor to orchestrate his impeachment through the Edo State House of Assembly and other means. In response, the Governor dissolved the deputy governor’s media team, relocated his office away from the main Government House, and physically prevented him from attending public events where the Governor was present. Additionally, three Permanent Secretaries, believed to be nominees of the deputy governor, saw their ministries disbanded or were asked to retire from their positions.