The Department of State Services, DSS, on Sunday, refused to grant the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu access to his Principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu was one of the guests who attended the church service to mark the 32nd anniversary of the state, which was held at the New Festival Hall of the Government House, Benin City, on Sunday, 27th August.
According to Daily Post, Shaibu stood up to greet Obaseki, but a DSS operative blocked him.
Obaseki, who was seated beside his wife, Betsy, and the representative of Delta Governor, Charles Aniagwu, reportedly looked away as Shaibu made futile attempts to talk his way out of the situation.
When the security operative refused to budge, the deputy governor returned to his seat.
Reacting to this, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Andrew Okungbowa, said that the DSS operative was only doing his job.
“Whatever happened at the church service was not at the behest of the governor, neither was he aware of what the security aides were doing.
“In fact, the security aides were doing their job. Besides, the governor was not aware that the deputy was coming to greet him. The church is a public event, so the security aides had a duty to safeguard their principal.”
Meanwhile, Shaibu speaking with journalists at the venue, described Obaseki as his “elder brother”.
He said: “My loyalty to the Edo governor remains absolute. I see that everybody is doing solidarity. I am also in solidarity with the governor. I am also declaring my unalloyed solidarity and loyalty to the governor.
“As for the issues that were around town when I5 was away (in the United States of America), I really would not want to talk. Issues that concern my governor are not things I like to speak about. He is my elder brother and boss. I do not think I should talk about anything.
“If I have issues with him (Obaseki), it is better settled at home, and not in the media. I am well brought up.
“I can tell you that from my Christian background if you make a vow with God that you want to do something, you must fulfil it.
“And the vow I have taken with God is that I will continue to support Godwin Obaseki as the governor of Edo State, from the beginning to the end. But that does not stop anything that has to do with ambition. Ambition is personal, and it does not affect loyalty. My loyalty to the governor remains absolute.”
