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The refusal of four
political appointees in Ogun State to join the Peoples Party of Nigeria
{PPN} may have landed them in trouble. The public officials who hail
from Yewa South and Obafemi-Owode local government areas have
reportedly been sacked from their jobs.

NEXT investigation
revealed that the affected appointees include Remi Ogunsola, a special
adviser on special duties, Deji Orebiyi, a consultant, and Taiwo Jimoh,
a liaison officer from Yewa South, who have all been replaced. Sources
also said that the caretaker chairman of the council, Muhammad Adekunle
Adewunmi was also under pressure to join the new party as well. Mr.
Adekunle, has not been sacked but our source said the pressure is
mounting.

In Obafemi-Owode
local government, the Liaison Officer of the Council, Obasanjo Soyoye
was allegedly removed over the same issue, and subsequently replaced.

NEXT further
reliably gathered that the victims of this power play have been handed
their sack letters which were signed by the Secretary to the Ogun State
government, Adegbemi Onakoya.

The sack letters
were also copied to the permanent secretary, Bureau of Political
Affairs and Admin and Director-General, Bureau of Management and
Budget. The sacked political appointees were directed to handover
government properties in their possession to the governor’s office.

The content of the
sack letters, a copy of which is in possession of NEXT reads, “In view
of the ongoing re-organisation machineries, I wish to inform you that
your appointment as Governor’s Liaison is no longer required.”

It added, “You
should therefore handover government properties in your possession to
the permanent Secretary, Bureau of Political Affairs and
Administration, Governor’s office, Abeokuta. I thank you for your
contributions to the success recorded by this administration and wish
you best of luck in your future endeavours.”

‘It’s victimisation’

One of the sacked
officials, Mr. Soyoye, confirmed his removal but attributed the action
to pressure to make him leave the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP}.

“I am Obasanjo
Soroye, the Governor Liaison Officer, Obafemi-Owode Local Government,
so as far as I’m concerned, I was working for the governor until
Wednesday last week when I started working for Olurin and Jonathan,” he
explained.

“And to my
surprise I was called this morning, that I have a letter, when I opened
the letter, I saw that I have been terminated. There is no further
communication,” Mr Soyode said.

However, reacting
to the issue the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation,
Sina Kawonise, denied that the victims were sacked over their alleged
refusal to defect to the Peoples Party of Nigeria.

“This to formally
disclaim the falsehood that Governor Gbenga Daniel has sacked members
of his cabinet who refused to join the Peoples Party of Nigeria {PPN}.
Governor Daniel did not sack anyone in his cabinet because his/her
affiliation,” Mr. Kawonise added.

He continued,
“Governor Daniel himself remains in PDP and continues to solicit votes
for President Goodluck Jonathan in all the PPN’s rallies he attends. I
use this opportunity to challenge any political appointee of Governor
Daniel who claims to have been sacked to produce his sack letter for
the world to see,” he added.