The newly sworn in governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, barely 24 hours after assuming office has sacked a total of 12,000 workers and ordered the dethronement of three monarchs.
The governor equally announced the sack of the State’s Independent Electoral Commission’s Chairman, Segun Oladitan and his team.
The governor also went on to nullify the appointment of 30 permanent secretaries, suspending the chairman and members of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The affected monarchs include Akinrun of Ikinrun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Ire, Oba Ademola Oluponle and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun.
Adeleke ordered the affected monarchs to vacate their palaces, asking security operatives to take over.
The latest purge is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed Monday, indicating that the new governor signed the Executive orders which cover chieftaincy matters, appointment issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.
The release reads in part: “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.”
Recall that Adeleke’s predecessor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola employed over 12,000 workers and appointed 30 permanent secretaries.
In a related development, another statement signed by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Tesleem Igbalaye, also announced the suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Segun Oladitan and its members.
Others are: Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi, and Wahab Adewoyin.
The statement noted that the suspension was sequel to several petitions bothering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said Chairman and members of the Commission.