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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Barely 24 hours after assumption of office, Osun State Governor, Sen Ademola Adeleke, has dethroned three monarchs, sacked 12,000 workers, nullified appointments of 30 Permanent Secretaries and suspended the chairman and members of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The affected monarchs are Akinrun of Ikinrun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Iree, Oba Ademola Oluponle; and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun. They have been ordered to vacate their palaces for security operatives have to take over.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday said Adeleke signed Executives Orders which covered chieftaincy matters, appointment issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.
“All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022,be and are hereby nullified.
“Executive Order number five on Chieftaincy Affairs and appointment of traditional rulers. All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge,” the statement read.
Immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola had employed 12,000 workers and appointed 30 Permanent Secretaries towards the end of his tenure.
In a related development, the governor has also suspended the chairman and members of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Tesleem Igbalaye, announced the suspension of Mr. Segun Oladitan as OSIEC chairman in a statement on Monday.
Members of the commission affected include Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi and Wahab Adewoyin.
He noted that the suspension is sequel to several petitions bothering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the Oladitan and members of the commission.
“Pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations against the suspended Chairman and members of the Commission, the Secretary to the Commission shall hold forth in running the affairs of the Commission,” the statement added.
