Ex-SSG misled me into firing my commissioner, by Umahi

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, yesterday said he was misled by a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to sack one of his Commissioners, Moses Ogodoali, who has been reinstated. Ogodoali was sacked about four months ago for alleged misconduct. Prof. Bernard Odoh was the SSG when Ogodoali was relieved of his duty as Commissioner for Agriculture. Ogodoali was also Commissioner for Environment and Empowerment and Job Creation in the current administration in the state. Odoh had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Ogodoali was yesterday sworn-in after his reinstatement by Umahi.

Speaking after Ogodoali took the oath of office, Umahi said he should have been suspended, and not outrightly sacked for the offence committed. The governor said extreme politics, which according to him had ravaged the nation’s political landscape, played out in the Ogodoali’s case and commended him for his patience and believing in his administration.

“I want to commend you for your character; actually the government was misled by the former SSG on your case. By the advice of a private discussion, it supposed to be suspension for not attending the meeting of Ministry of Agriculture that I called that early morning and I want to make it very clear that there was no time anybody suspected you of attending any other political meeting, there was nothing like that. Nobody has ever said anything like that.”