The Special Assistant on Political Matters to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Augustine Pelemo, has been sacked for calling the state’s deputy governor’s wife ‘acting first lady’.
Mr Pelemo was relieved of his position on Monday morning, in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Donald Ojogo.
The statement read: “This directive is with immediate effect; and it underscores the need to instill sanity and nip in the bud, divisive acts and tendencies inimical to the existing cordiality and cohesion in the administration led by the governor.”
While wishing Mr Pelemo well in his future endeavours, Mr Akeredolu directed him to hand over every government property in his possession to the Deputy Chief of Staff with immediate effect.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Pelemo took to his Facebook page to wish the deputy governor’s wife, Ajewole Agboola Ajayi, a happy birthday and referred to her as the “Acting First Lady of Ondo State”.
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“I think Pelemo just acted in a very stupid manner because in the first instance, why should he go on his social media page to address the wife of the deputy governor as an Acting First Lady of the state?” a staff at the government house who chose to remain anonymous told Sahara Reporters.
“Is the governor’s wife, Betty Akeredolu, on leave? That means he is trying to create a division in the government of Akeredolu.
“Even considering the kind of animosities in the government with all calculations towards the 2020 elections, Pelemo should not have gone to that extent on the social media.
“It is just unfortunate. He is now a sacrificial lamb despite his closeness to the governor and his deputy.
“Honestly, I really pitied him on this.”
Recall that Mr Akeredolu had sacked three commissioners in July.
