- Commissioner To Shaibu: “You And Your Thugs Planned The Attack”
- Shaibu: “It Is A Lie, Governor Attempted To Assassinate Me”
By Abiola Olawale
Edo State Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare and former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu are locked in heated arguments as allegations and counter allegations have continued to trail a recent violent attack which occurred at the gate of the Benin Airport recently.
It would be recalled that some suspected thugs attacked the convoy of Shaibu and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, leading to the death of Inspector Akor Onuh, an ADC reportedly attached to the APC governorship candidate
Reacting to the attack, Shaibu allegedly pointed out to his former principal alleging attempts to assassinate him.
Shaibu, who was reinstated as the Deputy Governor by a Federal High Court in Abuja said despite that he has been avoiding confrontation and protests, the state government is allegedly bent on wreaking violence in the state.
He noted that he has also instituted an N5 billion suit against the governor, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project, Crusoe Osagie for defamation.
Shaibu said: “I can tell you that Thursday’s attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute in vying 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 N5 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.
“I have resumed, recalled all my staff and I will be working from home to prevent any confrontation. I remain the deputy governor. All salary and entitlement will be paid,” he added.
However, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation has made an allegation that Shaibu planned the attack.
Nehikhare accused Shaibu of allegedly mobilising the thugs that shot at people and killed the police inspector.
He said: “The accusation is nonsense. How can Shaibu say that the governor planned the attack against him? It is his thugs who he mobilised that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman.
“Having realised the enormity of what has happened, he is now running around to clear his name. But we all know that his thugs were the ones who carried out the attack.
“He was the one who ignored the plea by the CP to remain calm due to the appeal and stay of judgment execution which the government got.
“We have videos of his thugs causing mayhem in the city on Thursday and he should be made to answer for his deeds.”
