By Ovie Okpare
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Tuesday dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect.
The governor with the decision has disengaged his senior political appointees including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie; Chief of Staff, Mr David Edevbie, Senior Political Adviser, Mr. Solomon Funkekeme and all commissioners of their appointment.
Also affected are the governor’s Special Advisers, Chief Strategist and others holding key political offices in the administration.
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The state immediate past commissioner for information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Asaba at the end of the now dissolved State Executive Meeting.
Governor Okowa directed the former commissioners to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their various ministry with immediate effect.
He also ordered other sacked senior political appointees to hand over government property in their possession to the most senior civil servants in their various offices.
The governor’s decision came barely four days after he disclosed that political activities ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state would officially commence in June.
Some of the sacked appointees including Okowa’s immediate Chief of Staff and former commissioner for finance, Olorogun David Edevbie; commissioner for works, Chief Austine Augoye, and Special Adviser and former Managing Director of NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo had indicated interest to succeed him in 2023.
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Aniagwu, briefly journalists on the outcome of the Exco meeting, said the dissolution was part of efforts by the governor to rejig his administration to enable deliver on his electioneering promises to the people of Delta.
The former commissioner flanked by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said, “The State Executive Council has been dissolved. All Commissioners are to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries with immediate effect.
“All Special Advisers are also to hand over to the person who is next to them including the Chief Strategist of the government and of course including the Chief of Staff, the SSG and the Senior Political Adviser.
“The governor, before announcing the dissolution of exco, thanked all members of his government for their contributions both those who have been there in the past six years and those who joined the train two years ago.”
