OSHIOMHOLE SACKS 2 COMMISSIONERS, AIDES

By NBF News

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday dropped two commissioners from his cabinet, two special advisers, two board chairmen and two special assistants from his cabinet.

Those dropped are Anselm Ojezua, commissioner for information and orientation and Lucas Okojie, commissioner for transport.

Others dropped are Mr. Peter Okoh, special adviser to the governor on environment and Dr. Sunday Edeko, special adviser on education.

Also relieved of their appointments are Dr. John Ogbeide, chairman, Health Management Board and Mr. Sylvester Osagie, chairman, Edo City Transport Service. Two senior special assistants to the governor: Mr. Theophillus Afuda and Mrs. Caro Agada have also been relieved of their appointments.

The governor thanked all the affected persons for the service rendered to the state and wished them the best of luck in their future endeavours. Though no reasons were given for their sack, Daily Sun gathered from a source close to his office that it was not unconnected with the fall-out of last Saturday's National Assembly elections where those sacked were alleged to have put up poor performance in their zones during the last election.

A top government source who confirmed this in Benin recalled that Oshiomhole in his first coming gave out appointments across board on the basis of equality of senatorial districts but hinted that 'after the elections, people would be compensated on the basis of their contributions.

'There is going to be a difference in the distribution of political patronage,' the source said and expressed disappointment over the failure of the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Central Senatorial District of the state to deliver the district to the party during last Saturday's National Assembly elections.

According to the source, 'many of the so-called leaders in the Central District who failed to deliver, stay in Benin, and do not go home to mobilise their people.' The source was of the view that a commissioner or special adviser who could not deliver his local government should resign his or her appointment and should not wait for the Governor to tell him or her to go.

Observing that Esan South-east Local Government in the Central Senatorial District was the only local government where young people mobilised to give the ACN a strong showing, the source noted that younger people seemed to be more reliable than some old men, adding that the state government was going to consider giving more attention the younger ones.