It what appeared to be a sign of more surprises, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday sacked four of his commissioners from the State Executive Council.
The governor took the step after returning from a weeklong visit to the United States to attend Edo Convention.
Though no official reason was given for the sack, it was learnt that it might not be unconnected with the public outcry over the lacklustre attitude in handling government affairs in their respective ministries.
A statement signed by the special adviser to the governor on media, Prince Kassim Afegbua, explained that the sack was in line with government’s commitment to strengthening the system towards optimal performance.
The statement further directed the affected commissioners to hand over all government properties in their possession to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries with immediate effect.
Those affected include: Chief Lucky James, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs; Mrs. Maigida Blessing, women affairs; Mr. Patrick Aguinede, basic education and Mr. Chris Ebare, commissioner for energy and water resources.
The sacked commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon Lucky James, when contacted for his reaction, simply told LEADERSHIP that he was not aware of the development.
However, his counterpart in the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Hon Chris Ebare, said the sack never came to him as a shock and thanked the governor for giving him the opportunity to serve the people of the state.
He said: “All well and good; I give thanks to God; I have done my best in the service to the state. When I was appointed, it did not come to me as a shock, so why should my sack be a shock? I am from the private sector; I don’t expect to be there forever and the governor himself will not be there forever. I have learnt a lot from him and gained from his political experience”.
He, however, dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the termination of his appointment might be connected to his loyalty to the deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu, who is nursing an ambition to contest the 2016 governorship election.
