Ekiti Gov, Oyebanji Suspends New Commissioner, Gives Reason

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Mr Olaiya Atibioke, has been given two weeks’ suspension by the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji.

Recall that the governor on Wednesday inaugurated 19 commissioners and 14 special advisers to complement members of the state executive council.

Oyebanji, while speaking about the constitution of his cabinet, at the inauguration said, “We inaugurated Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Health, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and many Special Advisers in November last year, and yesterday was our 8th exco meeting, and the exco had approved the 2023 Budget and Supplementary Budget.

“It was our agreement that we would not do (more) appointments until the end of the general elections, which ended in March. The Committee on Political Appointments submitted its report on May 31, the old Assembly ended on June 5, and the new Assembly began on June 6. The screening of the nominees was part of the first assignment they undertook.

“I can’t understand why party members are alleging that the Governor has refused to form his cabinet. We had one in place. What we are doing today is to expand the state executive council membership in line with the understanding we had with the leadership of the party. I want to be remembered as a governor who tells the truth and does the right thing.

“The governor enjoined the new appointees to be connected to the grassroots, pay attention to their political environment,s and not be a “political moonlighter who is rarely seen at home.”

However, in a fresh development, Oyebanji announced the suspension of one of the new commissioners, Atibioke, in a statement signed on Saturday by his Special Adviser (Media), Yinka Oyebode.

According to Oyebode, the commissioner was suspended because he left the venue of a three-day retreat organized for them without taking permission.

The governor’s aide said Atibioke was nowhere to be found during the signing of the performance charter.

He said, “Governor Oyebanji, who fully participated in all the sessions of the 72-hour retreat, had earlier stated that there would be zero tolerance for indiscipline and poor performance.”