Okpebholo, Obaseki’s Men Go To War Over ‘Workers’ Sack

The camps of Governor Monday Okpebholo and his immediate predecessor as governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki were at war on Thursday over the sack from the state civil service of those the incumbent described as irregularly recruited.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aligned to Obaseki in a statement issued by Chris Nehikhare, described the sack as wicked and an attempt by the All Progressives Congress, APC government of Senator Okpebholo to practicalise in Edo State what he described as the hardship foisted at a national level by the APC federal administration.

The PDP was quickly rebuffed by Fred Itua, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary who dismissed the PDP’s contention is based on ignorance and a joke.

GWG.ng had reported how Okpebholo’s sack of some permanent secretaries brought into the civil service from outside the system by Obaseki was applauded by some stakeholders.

Mr Itua added that anyone regularly recruited had no reason to fear.

Describing the sack as callous, reckless and unjust, the PDP spokesman, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who served in the Obaseki government said the action was a troubling sign of what may lie ahead under the new Okpebholo administration.

According to the PDP, the government’s harsh start is a direct assault on Edo workers and the people of the State.

The Edo PDP noted, “This is totally condemnable and unacceptable. How can a governor begin to sack workers in the State barely 24 hours after he was sworn in? This callous and rash action of the governor is a direct assault on workers and the people of the State, and we condemn it in its entirety. It is reminiscent of the dark days of the military when after they illegally takeover power, they begin to sack and dismiss civil and public servants, using words such as “with immediate effect and automatic alacrity”

“Could this just be the beginning of the harsh and inhumane policies and decisions we are to see under the new administration of Monday Okpebholo? Is this a sad tale sign of what the government portends for the people of Edo State? If this is how the governor begins his first day in office, what hope do we have for the months ahead? How can a governor kick off his administration by throwing families into hardship?” he queried.

 “This is the height of wickedness and insensitivity and does not bode well for our State,” Nehikhare added.

Nehikhare pondered if the governor was desirous of  bringing home to Edo State, the suffering and hardship already inflicted on the country and its people by the APC government at the centre.

“It’s clear that this administration has no regard for the welfare of workers and ordinary citizens because how do you begin your tenure by throwing families into poverty?

“I think Okpebholo is only bringing home to Edo State the suffering and hardship already inflicted on the country and its people by the APC government at the centre. We should not be surprised but expect more of such harsh and insane actions to impoverish the people further,” Nehikhare added.

Rebuffing the Obaseki camp on the sack of the purportedly irregularly recruited workers, Governor Okpebholo’s press secretary, Itua said:

“The statement issued by the factional chapter of the PDP in Edo is a joke taken too far. The PDP is yet to recover from the crushing defeat it suffered during the 21st September governorship election in Edo State.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo, since his inauguration on Tuesday, has since hit the ground running and trying to fix the mess created by the immediate-past MoU governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.

“For the records, the statement released on Wednesday by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, did not sack any civil servants. Besides, no Governor sacks civil servants through a media pronouncement.

“Those asked to go were appointees of the last administration in the State. The factional PDP in Edo State is ignorant, and its members need to be gainfully engaged.

“Anyone in the State’s civil service that is an appointee has nothing to fear. But if you are a product of the last MoU government and appointed by Obaseki, the rule of law must stand,” Okpebholo’s spokesman said in dismissal of the PDP’s assertions on the sack.

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