The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has said that his office has not been paid a six-month allowance owing to the tension between him and his principal, Godwin Obaseki.
The deputy governor, who stated this at the opening of the Correspondents Office in Benin on Tuesday, said that he had been running the office and doing other activities through goodwill and contributions from friends.
Shaibu, who described himself as an ambassador of the chapel, noted that he would forever be grateful to journalists as a write-up by an investigative reporter saved him from the grip of the dictator when he was incarcerated alongside other activists during the regime of the late Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha.
He said, “You know there is tension between the governor and I. And for six months, there has been no allocation to my office. So, whatever I am doing is contributions from friends and my goodwill; and I am still standing very strong.
“I am your ambassador anywhere I am. This is not because of politics, but because of what you have done to save my life in the cause of doing your work.
“I wouldn’t have been deputy governor today if I am not alive. A journalist who did an investigation and wrote a report saved my life in the hands of the military.
“So, you can see the reason why I come anytime you invite me, even if it is difficult, I must show up because that is the only way I can appreciate and encourage you.”
