Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has sent his Executive Assistant on Communication, Mr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, parking, over the recent can of worms he opened on his administration.
Latimore, in the mind-blowing revelations in an exclusive interview he granted in a yet to be disclosed national radio in Lagos on Sunday morning, 26th December, 2021, nicknamed some persons in the Okowa’s administration as “tribal bigots”.
The former Communication Executive Assistant, said these “tribal bigots”, are influencing the State governor, Okowa, to either pretend not to recognize his huge efforts in the discharge of assigned responsibilities or to ignore it completely.
According to him, resigning his appointment as Eacgovdelta would definitely come last if Okowa failed to do the needful by attending to his little and reasonable official requests tabled before the governor and the state government, wherein he copied appropriate senior government officials.
Reflecting on his five years in Okowa administration as EACGOV, Oghenesivbe, further disclosed that he helped a great deal in media management through repelling of critical media attacks on the governor and the government by deploying strategic political communication strategies which had enabled the governor to have the conducive environment and peace of mind to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Delta State, from 2017 till date and still counting.
Oghenesivbe said Okowa failed to do for him what he did for his colleagues from Delta North Senatorial District, for deliberately refusing to elevate his official status being the only senior communication aide from Delta Central Senatorial District, maybe due to the negative influence of some tribal bigots who do not want a non Ika to dominate the media space in Okowa administration.
He noted that the same envious tribal bigots senior government officials within the system prevented media aides of the governor from attending the State Government sponsored capacity building programme, Delcom 2021 organised by the office of EACGOVDELTA, adding that they refused to slow down in their collective efforts to silence him in Okowa administration.
He said after four years of service, Okowa elevated his colleagues in the media, orientation and information units with juicy packages, but failed to elevate him after nearly five years of excellent service as Executive Assistant on Communications, taking all the media bullets and public insults for Okowa and the administration as a result of his unblemished loyalty, commitment and absolute dedication to duty and in the defense of government and the governor’s reputation.
Investigation revealed that some of the bogus political promises purportedly made to him by the governor were not fulfilled, a source who was privy to the promises, while pleading anonymity disclosed.
It was gathered that Latimore, would have exited the government long ago but the governor allegedly kept greasing his palm whenever he (Latimore) was furious until the “tribal bigots”, vomited the straw that broke the Camel’s back.
It was gathered that whilst Latimore served in the Okowa’s administration, he was not allowed by the “tribal bigots”, to have access to the governor unless through them except in avoidable situations.
It was learnt that one of the grouse of the humiliated aide, was an alleged N25 million Christmas largesse released by the state governor wherein a purported N5 million was shared as the remaining balance allegedly went into private pockets.
“When he left the other side, the governor promised him so much and to work with him. When he came in he saw that there was barricade and accessing the governor as supposed. Latimore, has mind of his own, he speaks the truth as it is”, the source added.
But in a swift reaction to Latimore’s shocking revelations, Okowa, in a letter dated 29th December 2021, terminated his appointment with his government.
The letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, said: “I write to convey the displeasure of His Excellency, the executive governor of Delta State, over your conduct with respect to the performance of your duties wherein there has been manifest recklessness and insubordination.
“As this trend can no longer be tolerated, I regret to inform you that your service as the Executive Assistant, Communication, is no more required and your appointment is hereby terminated”.
The letter added that Latimore, should hand over all government properties in his possession to the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol.
