Obaseki’s deputy to operate from outside Govt House

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The newly-inaugurated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Godwins Omobayo, will still operate from an office outside the Government House, Benin, where the impeached Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, was pushed to by Governor Godwin Obaseki, some months before his Monday’s removal.

Omobayo, 37, an indigene of Ibilo in Akoko-Eko Local Government, in Edo North Senatorial District, and Labour Party’s (LP’s) House of Representatives candidate for Akoko-Edo constituency during the 2023 general election, but lost; immediately after his Monday’s inauguration, inspected the office being renovated.

The new deputy governor was accompanied by the permanent secretary in his office, while the renovation continued yesterday, and to last for some days, with Omobayo to live at the deputy governor’s official residence on Commercial Avenue in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, unlike Shaibu, who lived in his personal residence in the same GRA.

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are, however, not pleased with Omobayo’s selection, as they argued that there were more competent and experienced PDP members in Akoko-Edo Local Government and Edo North Senatorial District, who could have been chosen.

A PDP member in Etsako, Hassan Umoru, expressed sadness about Edo governor’s decision to appoint an LP member as the deputy governor, instead of a capable replacement from within the party.