By Onome Oghenetega
The immediate past commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, was not sacked but resigned his appointment to avoid being sacked by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, NIGER DELTA TODAY has reliably gathered.
It was gathered that Muoboghare tendered his resignation letter to the State Government Tuesday morning, an official of the Government disclosed.
Governor Okowa had on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony for five new commissioners announced Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu as the new Commissioner for High Education.
Okowa, who doubled as the Vice Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections, did not give any explanation if Muoboghare was sacked or had resigned his appointment.
Muoboghare was not present at the ceremony when the governor made the announcement. The development took guests and political appointees by surprise.
But sources close to the state government and the former commissioner told NIGER DELTA TODAY that Muoboghare resigned “on principles”.
It was gathered that Muoboghare’s resignation was not unconnected with his refusal to publicly support the governorship aspiration of the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
The former commissioner, who is also being rumoured to have been managing his relationship with the governor over undisclosed reasons, was said to be supporting Olorogun David Edevbie, a political godson of former Governor James Ibori.
It was alleged that Governor Okowa had threatened to sack appointees not supporting his “political decisions regarding 2023 elections”.
The sources told our correspondent that “Muoboghare would have been shamed out of office if had not resigned”.
The sources further revealed that Okowa is likely to sack appointees who are playing “double-standard” regarding 2023.
The sources added that “many of his political appointees said they are unaware that the governor had been spying on their activities. It’s a defining moment for his appointees but Muoboghare resigned and not sacked”
Ashibogwu is among the five new commissioners sworn-in by Governor Okowa on Tuesday in Asaba, the state capital.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the immediate past commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Muoboghare, from Uwheru in Ughelli North, on the development proved abortive.
