12,000 workers, 3 traditional rulers sacked in Osun

Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has sacked 12,000 civil servants, while 3 traditional rulers were dethroned barely 24 hours he was sworn in as the 6th governor of the State.

He also reversed the appointment of
30 Permanent Secretaries who were appointed at the twilight of his predecessor’s tenure.

The Chairman and members of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) have also been suspended from office.

The affected monarchs include Akinrun of Ikinrun Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Ire Oba Ademola Oluponle(the immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state) and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun. While Akinrun and Owa are first class, the Iree monarch is second class.

The governor gave a marching order to security operatives to take over their palaces.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, announced the government’s decisions in a statement Monday in Osogbo.

He said the new governor signed the Executive orders which covered chieftaincy matters, appointments 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 any capacity in 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 Ire 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 said.

In yet another statement, Secretary to Osun State Government (OSSG) Tesleem Igbalaye, also announced the suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and all its members namely; Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi, and Wahab Adewoyin.

He noted that the suspension was sequel to several petitions bordering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said OSIEC chair and the entire membership.

“Pending the outcome of an 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.