Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Segun Oladitan.
A statement issued on Monday, by the Secretary to the State Government, Tesleem Igbalaye, also suspended six members of the Commission with immediate effect.
It reads, “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has directed the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and the following members of the Commission; Mr. Yusuf Oyeniran, Alhaja Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Mrs. Abosede Omibeku, Mr. Dosu Gidigbi, and Mr. Wahab Adewoyin.
“This suspension is a sequel to several petitions bordering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism, and abuse of office against the said Chairman and members of the Commission.
“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 Governor also dethroned three monarchs appointed by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Oyetola had appointed the three monarchs including Oba Yinusa Akadiri, as the Akirun of Ikirun; Oba Ademola Oluponle, as Aree of Iree and Oba Adegboyega Famodun, as Owa of Igbajo.
The former governor also approved the appointment of 30 permanent secretaries to the various ministries.
However, Adeleke, in a separate statement, signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, declared that the thrones of Akirun of Akirun, Aree of Iree, and Owa of Igbajo remain vacant pending the outcome of a Committee of Inquiry to review their appointments.
According to the statement, the six Executive Orders issued by the governor, which border on the reversal of monarchs appointments, appointment, and placement of civil servants, employment, and freezing of government accounts have been signed this morning and take immediate effect.
One of the orders reads, “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 other five Executive Orders include “Executive Order on State bank accounts, I hereby order the immediate freezing of all Government accounts in all banks and other financial institutions.”
Executive Order Number 2 on Staff Audit reads, “All Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals of Osun State Government are hereby directed to carry out an immediate staff audit of the actual number of government workers in their various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals, as at 17th July 2022, and should file a report to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor stating the full details and position/designation of each of the staff on the forwarded list, within 7 working days from the date of this Executive order using the attached Oath of Fidelity Template.
“Executive Order number 3 on Employment. All employments in the service of the 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 4 on Appointments. All appointments in the service of the Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals after 17th July 2022, be and are hereby reversed.
“Executive Order number 6 Setting up Review Committees. In line with the executive orders Nos 2, 3, 4, and 5 already issued by me, I hereby order the set-up of the following Review Committees.”