By Obayagbon Osazuwa
BENIN CITY – Pandemonium erupted yesterday in the Ancient City of Benin in Edo State as three Police Officers severely sustained injuries and scores of youths missing at the political tussle that ensued between the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The duo who are both members of the same political party, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) are on the row on who becomes the next governor of the state in the next election.
The recent fracas was the attack on the loyalists and aids of the deputy governor who were at the venue of a meeting in Benin City by thugs allegedly sent by the governor of the state which led to the severe injuries on three Police officers on the spot as well as several other persons sustaining deep injuries.
According to reports, peace has eluded the political terrain of the state following the ambition of the deputy governor (Philip Shaibu) to context the governorship seat as against the preferred candidate of the governor, Dr Asue Ighodalo.
This development, it was learnt did not go down well with the governor (Godwin Obaseki) who sworn to enthrone his stooge that will cover up his alleged financial misappropriation deal after leaving office early November 2024.
It was also gathered at the scene that a top political aid to the deputy governor from the Aduwawa axis of the state, one Osaigbokan Efionayi, who was among those attacked was said to have inflicted serious injury on one of the mobile Policemen deployed by the governor to carry out the hatchet job before escaping from the scene.
It has been reported that the corpses allegedly recovered from the scene of the attack include that of Prosper Edafe, Osas Ogbeide, Fred Omo, Ehis Jude, Lawal Henry, Aigbe Osagiede, among others that cannot be identified before filing this report.
Meanwhile, the governor through the local Police in the area have beamed it’s search lights on the – run Osaigbokan Efionayi, Uwaifo Stanley and Okoduwa Peter in a local media with a handsome reward for any informant on their whereabouts.
However, the Police Spokesman, Chidi Nwanbunor told our reporter in Benin City that the Command would fish out the political loyalists of the Deputy Governor holding a meeting without the Police permission, as well as inflicting deep injuries on Police Officers.
It would be recalled that the governor’s desperation may not be unconnected with the financial and other criminal allegations heaped against him by the opposition parties who are also bent on winning the election come September 27, 2024.
The battle for supremacy between the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy has continued to wreak havoc both on their loyalists and the peaceful citizens of the state following their quest for political powers.
Investigation reveals that the victimisation started with the premature retirement of the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere who is the elder sister to Shaibu’s wife, Mrs Maryanne Shaibu.
Chikere’s retirement was swiftly followed by that of other civil servants perceived to be loyal to Comrade Philip Shaibu including Mr. Solomon Imonhiosen the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and Orientation and former Editor and General Manager of the Edo State owned newspaper, Nigerian Observer.
The latest in the series is the attacks on the allies and political followers of Shaibu at Homeville Hotel which was convened to deliberate on their next political move with a view to pitching tent with the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to stop Obaseki’s candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September governorship election in the state.
As at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Osaigbokan Efionayi, Uwaifo Stanley, Okoduwa Peter and
Evans Samson is unknown.
Meanwhile, sources that cannot be easily confirmed said they may have escaped or may have been killed during the mayhem as corpses littered on the ground among the mutilated bodies found in the scene were evacuated to the nearest morgue in the area.
