The gulf between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, widened on Monday because the deputy governor claimed that he was denied using the state’s official autos on the Abuja Liaison Workplace to move him to Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako West Native Authorities Space of the state.
Shaibu, who spoke on the 2024 version of the yearly Auchi Day celebration held on the Palace of the Otaru of Auchi, described the event as “an try and ridicule the Workplace of the Deputy Governor.”
The deputy governor confused that the “ugly state of affairs” was not about him as a person, however concerning the workplace, which he famous should be preserved and revered.
Shaibu, who had in December final 12 months introduced that he had not obtained any allocation to his workplace for six months working, specifically talked about the State Authorities Liaison Officer in Abuja, Deacon Festus Osaigbovo, as the federal government official who denied him using the official autos from Abuja to Auchi, within the foundation of non-availability of gasoline and Hilux vam to convey his safety.
The Liaison Officer, in response to the embattled deputy governor, nonetheless, opted to help him (Shaibu) to rent a Sports activities Utility Car (SUV) at a value of N250,000.
“I referred to as the Liaison Officer to offer autos to take me to Auchi to be a part of this 12 months’s version of Auchi Day Celebration. Sadly, he began giving me all types of excuses as to why he couldn’t present the autos.
“He talked about gasoline, non-availability of a Hilux for my safety, and ended up saying he can solely help me to rent a SUV to take me to Auchi, the associated fee at which he put at N250,000.
“Nevertheless, I managed to be in Auchi as a result of I used to be decided to be a part of this celebration. It’s a unhappy commentary as a result of as a authorities, we should always imbibe the spirit of respecting the establishment moderately than attempting to ridicule them.
“We’re right here immediately as authorities officers, we will not be right here tomorrow however the establishment stays for generations but unborn,” Shaibu bemoaned.
When contacted, Osaigbovo denied the allegation, saying he didn’t solely present autos for the deputy governor, he included a protocol officer to be within the entourage from Abuja to Auchi.
Osigbovo additionally put the stated protocol officer on the decision, and the latter didn’t solely verify that the wanted logistics had been offered, however hinted that the autos, whereas on their approach again to Abuja, developed faults, which he added had been mounted and had been about leaving Okene to proceed the journey again to Abuja.
“It isn’t true. I even despatched a protocol officer to accompany them on the journey,” Osaigbovo added.