Edo State government has reacted to the controversy surrounding the renovation of the Interdenominational Government House Chapel after the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu held Mass outside on Tuesday.
Amid the rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Shaibu, the latter on Tuesday held the weekly mass outside his new office.
The weekly programme used to be held at the Interdenominational Government House Chapel.
But on Tuesday, it was held in an open field close to Shaibu’s office at 7 Osadebey Avenue in the GRA.
The religious programme was attended by Shaibu, his wife, civil servants attached to the deputy governor’s office, some aides and political associates.
An official in the Chapel said they got a directive from the Senior Special Assistant to Obaseki on Religious Matters last Monday “to come and remove our things from the chapel, including the station of the cross, the pulpit and other items.”
The PUNCH quoted the official as adding, “I told him I will inform the deputy governor to know where to relocate the items and we went to remove them the following day. I was shocked when I started hearing that I went to do a video. They ordered us to remove our things, which we did.”
However, Obaseki insisted that nothing like the relocation of the chapel had happened.
But a statement signed by Rev'd Osagie Ehrunmwunse, SSA, Religious Matters and Pastor-in-Charge, Edo State Government House Chapel on Tuesday and obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the state government accused Shaibu of stirring controversy over the renovation of the chapel.
It said, “It is unfortunate that His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu has continued to stir controversy over the renovation of the Interdenominational Government House Chapel, trying to use things that we as Nigerians and Edo people see and hold as sacred such as religion, to whip up political sentiments.
“In the last couple of days, we have seen posts on social media and various media outfits, suggesting that the State Government has shut down the Chapel and prevented people from using it as a place of worship.
“Following closely from this narrative, our dear brother, the Deputy Governor held an outdoor mass with some catholic faithful, clearly showing that he is the mastermind behind the persons circulating the video and the accompanying false commentary, as his actions seek to curiously authenticate their false claims.
“It is unfortunate that the Deputy Governor has embarked on this lowly adventure, attempting to stoke religious animosity to embarrass the government, in which he serves.
“We want to bring the attention of the public and other relevant stakeholders to the fact that the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu was present (as shown in the EXCO Extract attached to this statement) at the 57th EXCO Meeting held on 1st of November 2023, when approval was given for the renovation and remodeling of the Government House Interdenominational Chapel. He served as Vice Chairman of the Council in that meeting.”
Ehrunmwunse said the project “is being handled by the Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency”.
He said, “In the portion of the EXCO EXTRACT marked GC (2023) 85, with the heading 'Conclusion 8 (Item No 12)', the document reads: "Council approved that the contract for the Renovation and Remodeling of Chapel inside Government House, Benin City, Edo State be awarded to BOUMS MULTINATIONAL CONCEPTS LIMITED at a negotiated tender sum of N300,161,278.17 (Three Hundred Million, One Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-Eight Naira, Seventeen Kobo Only).
“With this, it clearly shows that our brother, Philip Shaibu has full knowledge of government's action to renovate the chapel but rather prefers to act out a script to stir religious animosity in the State.
“But this is indeed mischief taken too far. We advise him to deploy these efforts being used for mischief to his political aspiration and not use sacred matters as materials for his campaign.
“We believe that many things may be permissible in politics but not profaning God's name for the purpose of gaining cheap sympathy and trying to blackmail the government in which he serves as the number two citizen of the State.”