Oshiomhole sacks aide over dereliction of duty

From EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, Benin City

AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has terminated the appointment of his Executive Director on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilization, Chief (Mrs) Evelyn Igbafe, for “dereliction of duty, incompetence”, among others.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, in a letter dated June 1 stated: “I write to inform you that the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has approved the termination of your appointment as Executive Director to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilization for dereliction of duty, incompetence and abdicating your responsibilities.

“Consequently, you are to return all government property with you, including vehicles and identity card, to the Directorate of Administration, Governor’s Office immediately”
It will be recalled that Mrs. Igbafe openly declared her unreserved support for Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi’s Governorship ambition which may have resulted to her dismissal from office.

Similarly, Market women on the Second East Circular area of Benin City have pledged to support the governorship standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, saying he has their full support.

The residents, who came out in large number in Benin to receive Oshiomhole who was on inspection of the ongoing construction of dual-carriage Second East Circular Road, accompanied by the candidate of the party, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and four of the aspirants in the primaries of the party: Professor Ebegue Amadasun, Hon Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, Maj.-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) and Comrade Peter Esele, showered praises and prayers on the governor for reconstructing their road which had been abandoned for years.

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They promised to reciprocate the gesture by casting their votes for Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

One of the women, Mrs. Doris Edionsere while expressing her gratitude to the Governor said: “On the day the evil one will plant evil seed outside, God will bring you out. You will go higher and higher. God will bless your family. Do you know what daddy? I used to come down at the junction, and I will start trekking, but now, I will come down in front of my store and just enter my store. I am enjoying it. You are a wonderful man. Indeed, you are a great governor. God will bless you.

“We will support your candidate, he has our full support. We know that you won’t give us a bad product, so we will support him fully as we supported you.”

Mr. Nathaniel James on his part said: “Oshiomhole has done well. So, his friend is the one we are going to vote for. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. So, Obaseki is the next man. He is the next governor.”

Addressing market women at Ekiosa market, Oshiomhole said, “Well, we are just inspecting the road. The only thing I want to ask you to do is to ensure that as we are constructing the drainage, make sure you don’t put refuse into the drainage. If you put refuse into the drainage, flood will not be able to flow through it, and the drainage will be blocked. If the road is good, people will come to the market, but if the road is not good, nobody will come to the market.”

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While introducing Mr. Obaseki, Governor Oshiomhole said “you know that governance is like a relay race. If one person finishes his tenure, he will hand over to another person. So, the next governor with your support and God’s blessing for the All Progressives Congress (APC) is Godwin Obaseki.”