Allegation and countered allegation have continued to trail Thursday Airport gate attack on the convoy involving the reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo as Shaibu accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of assassination on his life.
Shaibu made the allegation while reacting to the state government’s claim that he planned the attack that took the life of Inspector Akor Onuh at the gate of the Benin Airport.
The reinstated deputy governor told journalists on Friday that he was taken aback by the attack, noting that he has in the last one year avoided calling for a protest to avoid confrontation with the state government and their agents.
He noted that he has also instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project, Crusoe Osagie for defamation.
Shaibu said that he was not surprised that Nehikhare and Osagie were insisting that he remained impeached, accusing them of not studying the court judgement before sending out their responses, which he described as their mode of operation.
He stated that the judgement reinstating him was declarative and has to be carried out before an appeal over the matter could be heard, stating that the stay of judgement execution filed by the state cannot see the light of the day until the judgement is executed.
“I can tell you that Thursday attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute to vie for the position of the governor.
“They said I was the one who planned the attack, but I came in peacefully from Abuja to the state capital. Why were the armed thugs laying ambush for me? Were they expecting a visitor?
“I have already instituted a N5 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.
“I have resumed, recalled all my staffs and I will be working from home in order to prevent any confrontation. I remain the deputy governor. All salary and entitlement will be paid,” he added.
The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation has however denied allegation that Governor Obaseki planned the attack.
Nehikhare insisted that the thugs that shot at people and killed the police inspector were mobilised by Shaibu, saying that they were supporters and thugs who were at the airport to welcome their boss.
He said, “The accusation is nonsense. How can Shaibu say that the governor planned the attack against him? It is his thugs who he mobilised that were shooting sporadically that killed the policeman.
“Having realised the enormity of what has happened, he is now running around to clear his name. But we all know that his thugs were the ones who carried out the attack.
“He was the one who ignored the plea by the CP to remain calm due to the appeal and stay of judgement execution which the government got.
“We have videos of his thugs causing mayhem in the city on Thursday and he should be made to answer for his deeds.”
