The outgoing Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the disappearance of the Accountant-General of Delta State, Cyril Agbele, few days to hand over to another government was done in bad faith.

The governor made the clarification Thursday when Permanent Secretaries and retired Permanent Secretaries paid him a farewell visit at Government House, Asaba, Delta State capital.

He expressed surprise that after a fruitful discussion on preparations for the security operatives and preparations for the handover to another government, the Accountant-General made himself incommunicado.

According to Uduaghan, “The Accountant General has disappeared in the last five to six days. The truth is that on Thursday we met and I told him we have some payments to make in the areas of the swearing-in ceremony coming up Friday, he did not object, he did not say no and on Sunday, I was calling him but he was not picking my calls.”

“And of course on Monday his phones have gone off and on Tuesday, he sent a memo that he was sick, on Wednesday, he sent in another message and I found it very irresponsible,” Governor Uduaghan said, stating: “If I am doing something that is not right, be free to tell me it is not right rather than disappearing.

“Just imagine running the last days of government without the Accountant-General, I had to call the security men back to Kokori, peace and security is key agenda of my administration and I cannot compromise on it, trying to set me up with the incoming administration, I think it is very irresponsible.

“Even if they put the gun in your head, what you cannot do, you cannot do instead of disappearing and appearing when the time is right.”

Governor Uduaghan challenged Permanent Secretaries to be good mentors to others, observing that civil servants were key to the growth of the country.

“Permanent Secretaries are very key to the growth of the country, I am very grateful that you remember to say thank you for the little I have done for you, I do know that most countries that have succeeded did because of their strong civil service. At a time in this country, there was a strong civil service, whatever industry this country has had was made possible by civil servants, most times Permanent Secretaries were heading the teams,” he stated.

Continuing, Governor Uduaghan said: “Mentoring the younger ones in the Ministry is very important that is one of the reasons I was very keen on employing children of retired Permanent Secretaries because their parents can be their mentors, civil servants should be bold to also tell their boss the truth.”

Earlier, the Head of Service, Mr. Patrick Origho had told the governor that the civil servants were happy with his antecedents as Governor of Delta State and wished him well in his future endeavour.

The high point of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to the governor by the serving and retired Permanent Secretaries.

•Photo shows Uduaghan

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