Edo power tussle: Obaseki redeploys Shaibu’s in-law from sports commission

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has redeployed the Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs Sabina Chikere, to the Central Admin Department, Government House in Benin City.

Chikere, who is an in-law to the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, until her recent redeployment, was the General Coordinator of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

The former Insurance general coordinator is the elder sister to Maryann Philip-Shaibu, wife of the deputy governor.

A source who confirmed the development to the Saturday PUNCH and  said it was not unconnected with the rift between Obaseki and his deputy.

The development  is coming barely 24 hours to Bendel Insurance crucial CAF Confederation Cup first round preliminary match against ASO Chief of Algeria, billed for Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday.

The source said, “Mrs. Chikere’s rise to the position of Permanent Secretary was allegedly influenced by the embattled deputy governor as she (Sabina) was not a core civil servant in Edo and should not have been given the position.”

Shaibu had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking amongst others, an order rrestraining Obaseki, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State and others from commencing  alleged impeachment process against him. Punch