The suspended Commissioner for Special Duties and Focal Person for Ebonyi Indigenes in Diaspora, Mr. Valentine Okike-Uzor, has justified the decision by Governor Francis Nwifuru to suspend 87 Senior government officials, including some State Executive Council members.
Okike-Uzor explained that the suspension, which affected Commissioners, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and Permanent Secretaries, was a result of their habitual absence from official government functions.
He dismissed reports suggesting that the suspension was due to non-attendance at a birthday party.
In a statement signed by him and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Okike-Uzor described such claims as misleading and mischievous, accusing opposition voices of spreading falsehoods online.
He said: “Opposition voices have taken to social media to twist the facts and post lies about the official engagement that led to the suspension of some state officials, myself included.
“Some claimed it was a birthday party, while others pushed various shades of falsehood to suit their mischief. These claims are untrue. The suspension was not because of a birthday celebration as reported online.”
Okike-Uzor emphasized that it is the governor’s prerogative to designate any engagement as official.
“Once the governor designates an event as official, that’s final. He doesn’t need to consult any book to do that. It is his exclusive discretion,” he said.
He acknowledged that while some officials were unfortunate to be affected on this occasion, many had developed the habit of absenting themselves from key state functions, despite repeated calls by the governor for full participation.
“Some officials just show up briefly and sneak out, even while the governor is still present. Others arrive at events after the governor is already seated or leave before he departs. These actions are clearly against government protocol.”
While describing the suspension as unfortunate, he accepted the punishment as necessary.
“It’s unfortunate that a few who rarely miss government functions were caught in this particular web, but we must accept the punishment in good faith. We erred.”
He praised Nwifuru’s leadership style, describing him as patient, accommodating, and a servant-leader.
“Governor Nwifuru is the only governor who would tolerate such an attitude for this long. Not because he is weak, but because he believes in building Ebonyi together.
“He finds it difficult to punish people; he prefers to correct. He has been very encouraging and patient with members of the exco.”
Okike-Uzor stressed that the governor does not condone irresponsibility and that the suspension was a fair response to a serious breach of duty.
“Not attending government functions is a major breach of trust and responsibility. The proper sanction could have been more severe.
“Other governors might have simply dismissed the affected officials outright. But Governor Nwifuru chose the path of discipline with compassion — a carrot-and-stick approach, like a father nurturing his children.”
