Facts have emerged on why Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state sacked two of his commissioners last week Thursday in a minor cabinet reshuffle. The fired commissioners were the commissioner for Health, Nicholas Azinge and the Commissioner, Directorate of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Dan Okenyi.
Confiding in our correspondent, a commissioner who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that the commissioner,
Directorate of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Dan Okenyi, who was formerly in charge of the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development before his redeployment to the Directorate of Arts, Culture and Tourism, was fired following series of corrupt practices, land racketeering and forgery of governor Okowa’s signature for land related issues.
According to our source, the illegal reallocation and reselling of plots in Asaba especially that of Mrs. Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, a Deltan born Olympic and World Championships medalist as well as the one legitimately owned by the Delta State House of Assembly member representing Warri South-West constituency, Mr. Daniel Mayuku among others culminated into what made the governor to sack him.
“The sack of Dan Okenyi was long over due, and the governor has not been happy with his fraudulent way of life. The governor was shocked when he discovered so many fraudulent deals Okenyi used his name to do while in the Lands, Survey and Urban Development ministry. My former colleague, Dr. Nicholas Azinge was sacked following what the governor described as non performance.” our source stated.
The minor cabinet shake up also saw the Commissioner, Directorate of Youth Development, Mr Asupa Fortete redeployed to Urban Renewal while Mr. Karo Ilolo, formerly in charge of Urban Renewal, was redeployed to the Directorate of Youth Development.
The Commissioner, Directorate of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, Mr. Bright Edejero, was moved to the Ministry of Science and Technology while the Commissioner, Science and Technology, Joyce Overah, was redeployed to the Directorate of Local Government Affairs.
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Festus Ovie Agas gave the names of the affected commissioners in the cabinet shake up but not reasons were given for the sack and redeployment.
“Deltans are hereby informed that the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency,
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has effected a minor re-shufflement of the membership of the State Executive Council which takes effect from today 8th February, 2018. In this regard, Dr. Nicholas Azinge and Chief Dan Okenyi are no longer members of the Executive Council.
“Furthermore, some of the members of the Council have been redeployed as
follows: 1. Hon Asupa Forteta – Ministry of Urban Renewal, 2. Chief Karo Ilolo – Directorate of Youth Development, 3. Hon. Bright Edejewhro – Ministry of Science and Technology, 4. Hon. Joyce Overah – Directorate of Local Government Affairs.”
The statement therefore directed the sacked commissioners in line with public service standards to kindly handover all government properties in their possession to the Permanent Secretaries of their former Ministries and wished them success in all their future endeavours.
Governor Okowa, it was reliably learned had few weeks ago during an Exco meeting told the commissioners of his plans to sack some Exco members in a cabinet shake up and begged that those that will be affected should not defect but remain in the party.
