Ebonyi: Okike-Uzor backs Gov Nwifuru’s suspension of 25 commissioners, 60 others
One of the suspended Commissioner in the cabinet of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Commissioner For Special Duties and Focal Person, Ebonyi Indigenes In Diaspora, Barrister Valentine Okike-Uzor has thrown his weight behind the governor’s decision.
Governor Nwifuru had recently suspended 25 Commissioners and 60 others, including Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Permanent Secretaries for their failure to attend a government function.
Okike-Uzor, in a statement he personally signed and issued on Saturday to journalists in Abakalili, dismissed opposition’s voices for misinforming and deceiving Ebonyi people.
He added that the suspension was not as a result of EXCO members not attending a birthday party as being insinuated in some quarters.
Part of the statement read: “Opposition voices have taken to the social media and in their attempts to twist facts, have posted lies about the official engagement that resulted in the suspension of some of the State officials in which I am also involved.
“Some said it was a birthday party while others painted all shades of falsehood just to soothe their mischief. These are not true. The suspension was not as a result of birthday as was posted on the internet.
“Let me say it that, it’s the prerogative of the governor to designate any engagement as official.
“However, it was just unfortunate that some are affected by the stroke of bad luck for that particular day but the truth is that, a number of the EXCO members have habitually stayed away from government functions, even as the governor had on many occasions, encouraged them to always attend state functions.
“Some would just come, show presence and sneak out even while the governor is still sitting.”
He also expressed dismay that some State Executive Council members stroll into a state function when the governor was already seated, noting that it is against government protocol.
“It’s actually out of protocol to come to a function after the governor is seated and even leave before the function is over and whilst he is still at the venue.
“It was just a sheer bad luck that a few who do not miss functions were caught in the web for this particular engagement that resulted in the suspension but we have to take the punishment in good fate because we erred,” he added.
Ebonyi: Okike-Uzor backs Gov Nwifuru’s suspension of 25 commissioners, 60 others
