Obaseki’s deputy Shaibu leaves Edo event as security officers deny aides entry

Philip Shaibu

Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu on Monday left a government event midway after some of his aides were denied entry by security officials.

The event, a colloquium, was held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, in Benin City to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum.

The referendum for the creation of the then Midwestern Region of Nigeria, later renamed Bendel State in 1976, and now Edo and Delta states was held on July 13, 1963.

Shaibu arrived the venue around noon alongside some aides while Governor Godwin Obaseki was making his opening remarks.

But security operatives at the entrance of the hall barred his aides from entering the hall.

Despite Shaibu’s insistence that his aides “must come with me” the security officials stood their ground.

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“Let’s go,” the deputy governor ordered his aides after minutes of failed efforts to reach an amicable agreement with the security officers.

Shaibu later left the venue.

This comes after Shaibu, who is nursing a governorship ambition after Obaseki’s tenure, was denied access to his boss on Sunday.

The colloquium being organised by the state government is among other activities lined up to celebrate the diamond anniversary of the referendum, and to bring together leaders from the two states and other stakeholders to chart a path forward.