Obaseki: How We Will Punish Shaibu Over Benin Violence

The Governor Obaseki led administration in Edo State has vowed to punish his estranged deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu over the violence that rocked Benin on Thursday

The Governor Godwin Obaseki led Government of Edo State has warned Comrade Philip Shaibu who was on Wednesday reinstated as his deputy to toe the path of order saying his alleged attempts to enforce the judgment through violence which rocked Benin on Thursday would be punished.

The Obaseki government issued the warning following violence in some sections of Benin, the state capital which the administration blamed on Shaibu who it claimed was seeking to enforce the judgment that reinstated him as deputy governor.

GWG.ng reports that Shaibu had been impeached and removed from office by the Edo State House of Assembly on April 8, 2024.

That impeachment was, however, voided by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The Obaseki administration and the Edo State House of Assembly have, however, rejected the judicial pronouncement.

GWG.ng further reports that violence broke out in some parts of Benin on Thursday with claims now attributed to the Obaseki government as orchestrated by Shaibu who it claimed was trying to enforce the judgment.

The All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo was caught up in the violence which reportedly led to the death of one of his police escorts. Okpebhelo who was also reportedly injured during the melee was quoted by the APC campaign to be receiving treatment in a private hospital.

Warning Shaibu that the weight of the law would be brought against him, the Obaseki government in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare said:

The Edo State Government has observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs and elements working in connivance with former Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu in the guise of purportedly enforcing a judgement reinstating him in office.

Shaibu led thugs through the Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens and unleashing mayhem on private citizens who are going about their lawful businesses.

The State Government through this statement is warning Shaibu to desist from this turn to violence in the pretense that he is enforcing a judgement. He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travellers.

Shaibu’s violent tendencies is well documented and he has been warned at different times by respected figures of society, including the revered Benin Monarch to shun violence.

We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgement has been filed.

We enjoin the general public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as the government will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the state to restore and maintain law and order in the State in the face of undue provocation.

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