Fact-Checking: Did Edo Govt. Truly Demolish Philip Shuaib’s House?

By Olufisoye Adenitan

Claim: X users Ogie (@marythesa) and Pastor Okezie J. Atani (@ONgbonu) claimed in a viral video that the government demolished the House of the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu.

Verdict: MISLEADING. While available findings show the security post outside the impeached Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaib’s house, was demolished, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation said that it is not part of Mr Shuaib’s building.

Full Text

The former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shuaib, was impeached from office on Apr. 8, 2024, over alleged misconduct. Subsequently, Marvelous Omobayo was sworn in as the new deputy governor of Edo state.

However, on Apr. 15, 2024, X users Ogie (@marythesa) and Pastor Okezie J. Atani (@ONgbonu) claimed that the PDP-led government had demolished the residence of the impeached deputy governor

The now-deleted video by Pastor Okezie J.Atani garnered 11.8 views, 59 reposts, 19 quotes, 126 likes, and 15 bookmarks.

The video with the caption, “This is the Edo state Impeached deputy governor House, Philip Shuaib being demolished with Bulldozer by the PDP led government yesterday without giving Philip any prior notice o! This isn’t fair at all. Not fair…”

 The video, also posted by Ogie (@marythesa), garnered 11.8 views, 19 reposts, 46 likes, and 19 quotes.

“This is Philip Shuaibus’s house. Obaseki used his bulldozer to go and demolish it yesterday without giving Philip any prior notice o! Anyway, Philip, you laid your bed this way so better lay on it like that! Your karma came so fast. Next time, you (will) learn not to bite the fingers that fed you! So sad!” The video caption reads.

In the comment session, an X user, Olatunde (@one Naija Patriot), writes,

“I have no iota of pity for Philip Shuaibu. He dug his grave the day he teamed up with Obaseki to humiliate Oshiomole and did 360 years later to stand against the same Obaseki. He should eat his humble pie like that.”

Also, another user, Aux Osahon (@ AuzOsahon) said, 

“Bros dat na security post na… and it not suppose to be there in the first place… Who dey build security post across d road…. that’s not part of his house his land nor reach there, bro.”

Another commentator (@adekings2020) wrote,

“Watching this video shows that nothing happened to Philip Shuaib. The demolition was on the road; nothing happened to the fence. Why are people using SM to propagate fake stories?”

From the video posted by Pastor Okezie J Atani (@ONsogbu), it was observed that a female voice was narrating the incident, stating the men who came for the demolition said they were from the government house on instructions to carry out the exercise.

Due to the contradicting comments and virality of the post, DUBAWA decided to verify and set the record straight.

Verification

DUBAWA observed that in the video, a bulldozer pulled down the security post outside the building, not the main building, contrary to the assertion.

The commissioner for communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the security post was not part of the Shuaib’s residence.

“The Edo state Government had given Shuaib the privilege of enjoying an extra security presence in his house, but since he’s a private citizen and his security has been withdrawn, the security structure can not stand. It’s an illegal structure, but there is no plan to demolish its main building,” Nehikhare stated.

We also conducted a keyword search that led to news reports by Punch and The Guardian. These reports revealed that the officials of the Edo State Network and public works volunteers pulled down the security post in front of the residence of the former deputy governor, Philip Shuaibu, in the government reserve area, Benin.

Conclusion

 DUBAWA findings show that the house of the impeached deputy Governor of Edo state, Shuaib Philips, was not demolished, making the claim misleading.

The researcher produced this fact-check for the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Olufisoye Adenitan, FRCN positive fm Akure Ondo state Nigeria, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group