TELL Magazine

Following his impeachment and removal from office as deputy governor of Edo State last Monday, Philip Shaibu has been stripped of his security paraphernalia as the security post that had for more than seven years adorned the front of his private residence at the Aideyan Avenue, Government Reserved Area, GRA, Benin City, was on Sunday dismantled by agents of the state government.

Recall that Shaibu was sacked by the state House of Assembly following the adoption of the recommendation by a seven-man impeachment panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa. With his removal from office, Shaibu has lost the immunity hitherto conferred on him by Section 308 of the Nigerian constitution and has become an ordinary citizen.

The make-shift security post, erected by the former number two citizen, shared the same perimeter fence with the golf course, and served as temporary shelter or first port of call for his security details before and after close of work. The ministry of Roads and Bridges was alleged to have carried out the demolition exercise, which the ministry denied.

It was gathered that the exercise was carried out by a formidable team made up of men of the Nigerian Police Force, members of the Edo State Security Network, (ESSN) as well as members of the government-owned Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV).

Though there had been no official statement from the state government on the development, one of the security personnel that carried out the demolition but spoke on condition of anonymity as he had no mandate to speak, explained that the structure was removed because with the loss of his position, Shaibu is now a private citizen and no longer enjoys the privilege of having such security post.

Meanwhile, the commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, whose ministry allegedly carried out the demolition, distanced his ministry from it. Uzamere said, “I have seen some online reports linking my ministry with the demolition of the former deputy governor’s security post and I can tell you it had nothing to do with my ministry”.

There were however fears in the camp of the embattled former deputy governor that this could be a prelude to worse fate that would befall him as Governor Godwin Obaseki appears resolute to bury him politically.