Contrary to the fake news making the rounds in the online media that the Chief of Staff to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu; the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi and “more than 35 political appointees of Ogun governor Dapo Abiodun” have resigned, most of the people mentioned reported at their offices on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
“While those with ambitions are free to resign and pursue their dreams, no one from that list being paraded on the social media has overtly or surreptitiously resigned their appointments” an authoritative source at the Governor’s Office confirmed on Tuesday .
Our checks at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, confirmed that the Chief of Staff, the Governor’s Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, Commissioner for Forestry, Tunji Akinosi and his counterparts in Investment, Trade and Industry, Mrs Kikekomo Longe were in a meeting with some foreign investors at the Governor’s Conference Room.
It was learnt that a follow-up meeting has been scheduled to hold as soon as Gov. Dapo Abiodun returns from his trip in Abuja.
“While it is true that some people may have political ambitions, it is preposterous to insinuate that 37people resigned when they didn’t,” a senior official confided in our reporter.
Said to have resigned among scores of unnamed other appointees are: Tunji Akinosi, Commissioner for Forestry; Afolabi Afuape, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, Special Adviser on Women Affairs; Dapo Okubadejo, Commissioner for Finance/Economic Adviser to the Governor; and Jagunmolu Omoniyi, Commissioner for Housing.
The fake news alluded to a “hushed process managed by the office of the SSG” in one breath and insinuated that the SSG himself resigned!
However, it was confirmed that a directive from the governor requiring political appointees wishing to run for political offices in the 2023 general elections are required to notify the SSG, they were not asked to tender their resignation.
The reporter of the fake news, the source said was being “disingenious about implications of the clause in Section 84 (12) of the new electoral law provides that: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
The authoritative source within the government circle however said that: ” Government will not be drawn into any needless controversies on individual politicians ambitions. We have a job to do and we will not be distracted by liars from the pit of hell whose interest is patently divisive, retrogressive and anti-people”.
