By Nicholas Ojo
More facts last night emerged on why the Edo State Executive Council (EXCO) met in Lagos and not in Benin, recently.
This is as speculation was rife that the decision to meet in Lagos was allegedly taken to block the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, from participating in the session.
However, investigation has revealed that contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the EXCO only went for its annual retreat in Lagos, with the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, commissioners and other heads of MDAs in attendance.
According to a close source, the retreat which was held at Lakowe Lakes Golf Resort and Country Estate in the outskirts of Lagos, is a yearly ritual by the state government for strategic sessions with different invited resource persons to brainstorm on the programmes of the government and set agenda for the coming year, with guidelines and dateline for implementation, among others.
The source further noted that the Council meeting held on Monday was due to speculation that Wednesday would be declared a Public Holiday, debunking insinuation that it was to prevent the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, from attending the meeting.
This is also as the source said that there is no iota of truth in Obaseki giving condition to Shaibu to forget his ambition to contest 2024 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
