Renovation work is currently ongoing at the abandoned office of procurement in Benin City with a new signboard mounted at the entrance showing ‘Office of the Deputy Governor’.
This is different from the known office of deputy governor Philip Shaibu which is directly behind Governor Godwin Obaseki’s office at the Government House.
There are speculations that the deputy governor may soon relocate to the new office located at No 7 Osadebey Avenue, a few metres from the seat of power.
Observers sat the move is apparently not unconnected with the rift between Governor Obaseki and deputy governor Shaibu.
The public procurement office was commissioned by a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, on December 16, 2014.
One of the workers handling the renovation work who did not give his name said the job is expected to be delivered on Monday. He said it was the government that erected the signboard.
He added that he didn’t know what the building was going to the used for as he had no idea about how the signboard emerged.
The commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said; “If there is a government signboard saying so, then it must be so.”
Chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Musa Ebomhiana, denied knowledge of any plan to relocate the office outside Government House.
“Until we are formally informed that the office of the deputy governor is now outside Government House then we will react appropriately. But for now, I believe it is still in the realm of rumor.
“As a responsible government there are certain things that should be done normally. I cannot go and resume there because I saw a signboard there. If there is anything like that they should write him officially because it is a joint ticket,” he said.
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