Edo Govt Faults APC Claim of SSG Hold on to Power as Running Mate to PDP Candidate
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday called on the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 governorship, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, to resign his position as the Secretary to State Government (SSG), claiming he cannot continue to earn salaries and emoluments from the public while campaigning as a candidate.
But the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has described the APC call as being “illiterate like its candidate” declaring that the Electoral Act permits Ogie to be in government till one month to the election.
A statement by the Acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, said the action of Ogie to remain in office “is patently unacceptable and an affront to the good people of Edo State. As an unelected public officer, Mr. Ogie is given an ultimatum to resign from government forthwith as his continuing stay in office is a clear violation of all known rules of decency and ethics. By remaining in office, while posing as running mate in the gubernatorial election, Mr. Ogie is also in violation of the public service rules which prohibit a public servant from using public resources to fund private purposes.
“Mr. Ogie is currently earning salary and other official benefits as Secretary to the State Government, even while pursuing a private ambition to become deputy governor. He’s using official vehicles and other government logistics to service his electioneering campaign. This is totally unacceptable and a waste of taxpayers’ money. This is the very definition of corruption. No unelected public servant should be allowed to do this. It’s patently wrong and a disservice to the state and the long suffering people of Edo State.”
When contacted, Nehikhare said “they can’t read and their candidate can’t read, they should go and read the electoral law, it says 30 days before the election, it is obvious now the APC cannot read and their candidate cannot read, it is a party of clueless people.”
