The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Monday, inspected some ongoing projects in the state capital, Benin, noting that he has since resumed and ready to work with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu inspected the Raddison Blu Hotel, the Museum of West Africa Art, Sepele Road and roads under construction in the state capital.
Speaking after the inspection, he stated that the MOWAA was 80 per cent completed, adding that the Central Hospital should have been sitting on the land
He said, “Work is about 80 per cent completed at MOWAA. It’s fine but I have my reservation because the Central Hospital should have been on that land.
“I have since resumed since my reinstatement. The issue of reinstatement should be a thing of the past. I don’t think we should be talking about it. Judgement has been given. We should move forward.
“The issue is if I can work with Obaseki. Can I work with him? I can work with him but he cannot work with me. The office of the Deputy Governor is not an office under Obaseki. It’s an office created by the Constitution.
“Until you understand the difference between the office of the Governor and the Office of the Deputy Governor and the constitutionality of the office, there will still be problems. I am a deputy governor and my role is clearly defined. There was no time I was never a deputy governor. It’s an elective post and not an appointment.
“I have two certificates of return. I will be going round in the next two weeks starting with Edo South, then Central and then North to check what we have done. A new sheriff is in town and we must handover to him. That’s where we are. I am doing my work as deputy governor of Edo State.
Shaibu urged the people of Edo to ignore press statements being released from outside the country, noting that he was not deterred.
He added, “We should not respond to people on exile who push out press releases. We are here. We are homeboys here in Edo.
“Anybody who wants to issue press release should come here and not to be in exile and start releasing press statements. We should ignore them.”
When asked if the museum would be reverted to a hospital, he said, “I am not the governor-elect. The governor-elect will do what he wants to do with the museum when he resumes duty as governor of Edo State. My role as deputy governor is to discharge my duties accordingly.
“I have come to inspect what is going on here at the museum. We went around other projects too. Administratively, there are issues that have to be sorted out. There are administrative issues at Raddison Blu which have to be sorted out.
“In the next six weeks, we have to put things in proper perspective so that the next sheriff will know where we are. I am doing my work as deputy governor. I am on ground and not on exile.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has warned Shaibu not to act in breach of extant laws.
In a statement on Monday, Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, warned Shaibu not to disrupt the process of governance and subject himself to the law at all times.
He added: “Shaibu, just like any private citizen, can take a tour around the exceptional projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“We warn, however, that both Philip Shaibu and the security agencies should not carry out actions that violate the laws and the constitution.
“Shaibu should be patient and wait for the Appeal Court to hear his matter; he needs to learn to subject himself to the authority of the law.”
“The government enjoined the good people of Edo State to go about their lawful business, rest assured that government will always ensure the protection of lives and property in line with extant laws in the State.” (Punch)
