By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has ordered the immediate sack of 18 political aides comprising Special Assistants (SA) and Senior Special Assistants (SSA).
The directive was contained in a letter addressed to the Office of the Accountant General by the Chief of Staff dated July 6, 2021, with reference number ANGH/COS/AA/059/VOL 5/130.
It stated: “I wish to communicate the approval of His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano, the Executive Governor of Anambra State for the termination of the underlisted appointees with immediate effect.”
The affected aides include the SSA on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Nnamdi Achike Patrick; SSA Grassroots Mobilisation, Azubuike Okafor; SSA Project Management, FADAMA, Joseph Okonkwo; SSA Lands (Technical Adviser), Prince Onyechi Okafor and SSA Youth Entrepreneurship, Ngozi Nnamekwe.
Also among the list are SSA Media/Image, Chila Gabriel Ibeneme; SSA Media/Image, Ezekwelu Kingsley Chukwudubem; SSA Agric, Ngozi Ossy Agbata and SSA ANSIPPA, Chidi Adi Ekwenugo.
The affected Special Assistants are SA Works, Nwachukwu Opkalaoka; SA Agric, Tochukwu Mgneafuluba; SA Environment, Esedo Ruth Uzochukwu; SA Works (Quality Control), Engr. Ibik Ebuka Kylvin; SA Works (Anambra Material Testing Lab), Engr. Okolieukwu Maureen Chizoba and SA Student Matters, Obele Chukwunike Onyebuchi.
The designation of three others were not attached. They are: Barr. John .C. Onyeakpa, Hon. Udeanor Onyekwelor and Uloka Chuks.
A source who spoke with 365Daily on condition of anonymity said the termination of their appointments was in response to their refusal to support the ‘anointed’ candidate of the Governor in the forthcoming Novemeber 6 gubernatorial election.
He stated: “Anambra State Government sacks all the SA(s) and SSA(s) that are aggrieved and refused to join the bandwagon in supporting their preferred candidate. The most affected are supporters of Oba-Aguata, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji.
“We would just continue to watch from the sidelines as events unfold.”