Another controversy is brewing in Ondo state over the removal of the state’s Accountant General, Mrs Esther Oni, by governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Mrs Oni was removed and replaced by the governor’s kinsman, Mr O. Orisabinone.

The former Accountant General has subsequently been redeployed to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Raising ethnic concern, over the governor’s decision, a group, the Association for Good Governance Advocacy (AGGA) in the state, expressed displeasure over the removal of the Accountant- General of the state and her subsequent redeployment to Ministry of Commerce and Industry by the state governor.

Orisabinone’s appointment was contained in a circular dated March 5, 2024 and signed by the new Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip.

Orisabinone, was a Director of Accounts in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Lands and Housing and an indigene of Ilaje Local Government area of the state.

Mrs. Oni, who hails from Ile-Oluji, was appointed as the Accountant-General of the state in 2021 by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, following the retirement of the former state aAccountant-General, Mr. Laolu Akindolire, who retired after 35 years of service.

Meanwhile, the group, in a statement signed by the state coordinator, Mrs. Folakemi Benson, expressed concern that “Governor Aiyedatiwa’s actions are setting a bad precedent in the civil service.

Benson noted that “Mrs Oni’s redeployment is seen as unprecedented, as previous Accountant Generals in the state only left office upon reaching retirement age.

The group said that “Governor Aiyedatiwa had previously removed the former Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele from Ikare, and replaced him with his kinsman, Bayo Philips, signalling a pattern of replacing top civil servants with individuals of his choosing.

AGGA also alleged that “the ongoing restructuring in the civil service is political.

It added that “Aiyedatiwa is only placing his loyalists in strategic positions to enable him to have unrestricted access to state funds.”

The group also alleged that he “is aware that the governor is impulsively distributing money from the state treasury to fictitious groups to secure their endorsements.

“if this trend continues, the state may find itself unable to pay salaries or fund projects shortly.

“We have seen that Governor Aiyedatiwa is willing to spend any amount from the state treasury to stay in power after 2025, and if this undue pressure and desperation on the governor’s part is not checked, the state treasury may soon be emptied.

“The governor recently gathered some Ebiras, Igbos, and Hausas at his office, claiming that they had endorsed him.

“We were aware of the significant costs involved before these groups agreed to attend the event.

“Desperation has driven a man who has yet to receive his party ticket to seek endorsement from fictitious groups. Are all of these groups affiliated with your political party, Mr. Governor?

“Your primary goal right now is to persuade your party members to support your ambition rather than wasting state funds on groups that cannot give you a party ticket.

Benson added that “We will not be surprised if the governor asks his political advisers to gather mad men and women in the governor’s office and seek their endorsement.

But an aide to the governor said that his boss has the right to redeploy any civil servant.

Speaking, the aide said that ” the woman was redployed not sack. So what’s the hue and cry over that?.

He asked the group to allow the governor do his work and stop meddling in matters that’s purely civil service incline. (Vanguard)

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