That Edo State is work in progress since inception of the present administration three years ago under the transformational leadership of Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and his loyal Deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is a stark reality that well-meaning Edo people and Nigerians can proudly attest to.

Indeed, Edo has become a model of good governance and progressive developments – largely on account of the perfect working relationship between Mr. Governor and his Deputy – anchored on mutual trust, understanding and shared vision of taking the Heartbeat of the Nation to the next level.

It happened that on the cozy evening of Sunday, August 27, the relaxed atmosphere that pervaded the house of the Deputy Governor while playing host to some friends and political associates was rudely interrupted when he got a distressed phone call at about 8.00pm, informing him that a top aide to the Governor and Special Adviser on Security, Law and Order, Mr. Andrew Momodu has been arrested in a gestapo manner by the Inspector General of Police (IG) Special Squad from Abuja and whisked away to the Headquarters of Edo State Police Command, enroute Abuja.

Without much ado, Comrade Shaibu rose to the occasion, fully aware that his boss, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki was outside the state due to exigencies of official engagements, dashed to the State Police Headquarters only to discover that other functionaries of Edo State Government, including Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters (Edo South) and immediate past Chief Whip of Edo State House of Assembly; Comrade Muktari Osagie, State Coordinator, Public Works Volunteer (PUWOV) amongst five others, have been listed for arrest.

Upon enquires, the Deputy Governor was told that the illegal arrest was consequent upon a petition purportedly written against the Governor’s Aides, alleging threat to life of the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, immediate past Governor of Edo State and National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as intent to destroy his palatial residence in Benin GRA.

Comrade Shaibu, who visibly felt embarrassed and expressed displeasure over the unwholesome incident, swiftly swung into action by making some phone contacts to the police hierarchy in Abuja; while demanding for the unconditional release of the State Government officials whose “arrest” did not follow due process.

The proactive action taken by the Deputy Governor on behalf of his boss, the Governor is understandable. For him, he realized that it was obviously a slight on the person and office of the Governor who by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution doubles as the Chief Security Officer of Edo State and as such, should have been duly notified of the presence and operations of the IG special squad in Edo State; more so, when officials of Edo State Government were the target. He considered the action of the special squad as an affront on the legally constituted state government and a negation of rule of law and order.

Pissed off by the perceived lawlessness, the Deputy Governor discarded his official toga and donned that of a political activist he had long abandoned. Shaibu literally laid seize to the State Police Headquarters till the wee hours of Monday when he secured the release of Andrew Momodu with a personal commitment to produce him and other officials of the State Government at the Police Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday, October 30.

It is instructive to note that the incumbent Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has undertaken far-reaching reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force and make it people-friendly, while discharging its assigned duties within the rules of engagement.

The Comrade Deputy Governor had told the crowd that gathered that fateful Sunday night at the State Police Command that he believes the 7–man squad from Abuja may have gone beyond their brief to satisfy some political interests.

To all intents and purposes, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu and by extension, Edo State Government has tremendous respect for the person and office of the Inspector General of Police, as he has manifestly displayed a high level of professionalism, competence and capacity to transform the Force to meet global best practices.

The IG, no doubt, is a through-bred professional police officer, unlike the overzealous police men who were in Edo State to act a script outside their official brief.

It is on record that the present administration in Edo State came on board with the gospel of entrenching the rule of law and public order. The ignoble era of impungnity and recklessness is over. Edo people are resolute never to go back to Egypt.

Truth is that the Obaseki-led administration cannot be distracted as it is focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the greater majority of our people.

On the whole, the actions exhibited by the Deputy Governor while standing in the gap for his boss, leader and elder brother, Governor Godwin Obaseki is a clear demonstration of his unalloyed loyalty and unwavering support for the State Chief Executive. It also sends a clear signal to the world that any arrest that fails to follow the due process of law will not be condoned in Edo State.

Beyond this, it gives hope and assurance to all political appointees in the state that their personal security and protection is guaranteed, especially that which borders on political witch-hunting and harassment.

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Austin Otas-Osegbe
is Public Relations Officer
Office of Edo State Deputy Governor