…Says act callous, autocratic
Kehinde Adewole
A former University lecturer and a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Gboyega Ayenimo, has berated Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State over the sudden suspension of the principal of Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki-Ekiti, for allegedly not being on ground to receive the governor during his inspection of schools on their preparations against COVID-19 pandemic ahead of the resumption of students of Senior Secondary Schools three (SSS 3) in the state.
Ayenimo said such act was autocratic, callous and oppressive.
The ex-governorship aspirant expressed shock at the suspension of the Principal of the school on Monday evening, saying such act was not only hasty but quite unthoughtful on the part of the governor, who is a former teacher.
A statement, on Monday, August 9, from the office of the Commissioner for Education, Foluso Daramola, had announced the suspension of the Principal and directed her to immediately hand over the management of the school to the most senior Vice Principal in the school.
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Concerned about the development, Dr. Ayenimo, while speaking with newsmen on telephone, on Tuesday said, “We are shocked at the insensitive act committed by Governor Fayemi by bringing the hammer on the poor woman who probably, by some circumstances that may be beyond her control, could not wait till the governor arrived the school for the said inspection.
“We even learnt that the woman had waited patiently for the governor’s entourage from early morning till evening before she had the reason to leave around 5:00pm.
“Besides, Sunday is not an official day and 5:00pm is also out of business hours. So, punishing the woman in such circumstance shows an autocratic tendency in Fayemi’s style of governance.
“A government should have a human face but sadly the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government under governor Fayemi is completely bereft of this.
Speaking further, Ayenimo continued, “In any case, the government should have investigated the incident and find out under what circumstances has the woman left the school before his team arrived.
“It is possible that if such careful action was taken, the governor wouldn’t have had any reason to suspend the woman. Rather, he would have apologized to the principal for his un-punctual behaviour.
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“The act of suspension is hasty and portends danger for the well-being of teachers and civil servants at large in Ekiti State.
“It sends a dangerous signal to civil servants that they are working under oppressive government of APC which, obviously, has no regards for people.
“Ekiti people, civil servants and teachers know quite well that the PDP would never take such callous action against a worker because the PDP runs a government with human compassion and understanding.
“The sudden suspension slammed on the Principal is surely a strong signal that Ekiti people should get ready to kick out the repressive Government of APC in 2022 to forestall this abuse as visited on the principal of Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki-Ekiti.”
