*Shaibu’s camp debunks story: “He’s a peace-loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law”
The Edo State Government has said that the erstwhile Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has perfected plans to invade the Edo State Government House on Monday, September 30, to enforce his purported reinstatement despite the fact that a stay of execution appeal has been filed challenging Justice J. K. Omotosho ruling.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Edo State Government, Crusoe Osagie, called on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his devious plot as it is a clear recipe for chaos, given the fact that a policeman was killed the last time he attempted such action.
However, Shaibu’s camp has immediately debunked the story saying “unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood for whatever reason”.
In the statement, Crusoe Osagie had said: “We want to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho.
“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal and we appeal to the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the state does not descend to anarchy because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that is one death too many and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such.”
Osagie added that the government lawyers have written to the IGP and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact that “all actions relating to the Enforcement and/or execution of the judgement of Honourable Justice J. K. Omotosho in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 be stayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction Pending Appeal so as not to foist a situation of helplessness on the Court of Appeal and render the Order nugatory in the case that the application is granted.”
He added that the appeal case raises special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds in respect of which the Court ought to grant the application as this will ensure that the plantiff/respondent (Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu) does nothing to cause a breach of the peace or break down of law and order in Benin City and Edo State.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Comrade Philip Shaibu, Ebhomiana Musa said: “As it is today, in eyes of the law and in the eyes of the good people of Edo State, indeed, Nigerians, Philip Shaibu is the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State. We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us. Obaseki and his co-travellers should accept the fact that the good people of Edo State have spoken, and his godson, Asuen Ighodalo, has been roundly rejected at the polls. Sadly, this reality is yet to dawn on them.”
“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood for whatever reason.
“Crusoe Osagie, the purveyor of the fake news is well known as an alarmist and propagandist who thrives on rumors and beer parlour gossips, with little or no respect for the ethics of our cherished profession, journalism. So, he has to be ignored.
