Retirement Letters from SIT, AAU…Elimi Esan At Work?
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
The past weeks of electioneering campaigns and elections, has been eventful as it witnessed series of visits of the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to Irrua, the Headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo state, it has witnessed the issuance of letters of retirement to a number of senior staff of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and on Tuesday, 14th March 2023, a release purportedly signed by Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media Projects to Governor Godwin Obaseki, disclaimed all the letters of disengagement saying they are illegal, null and void.
It will be recalled that, earlier on same day, the Speaker, Edo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, had disassociated himself from the said letters of retirement.
In view of the confusion that trailed the issuance of the said retirement letters, it is apt to conclude therefore that Elimi Esan that have all these while been very quiet and patient are wise. Because, as all the anomalies of increase in school fees of the University, increase in accommodation fees, introduction of toll payment at the school gate, non-appointment of Governing Council for the University, drastic reduction in the subvention to the University, selective and nonpayment of Staff salaries, etc were going on, Elimi Esan was recording it and giving all the perpetrators long ropes to pull.
Today, however, Elimi Esan are angry and they now appear to be rising to the task of defending the heritage of Esanland by first setting confusion in the camp of those that are poised at destroying the legacies of Esanland.
Several entreaties were made in the past to concerned authorities, to give Ambrose Alli University a breathing space, but all fell on deaf ears.
In conclusion, the question that I will like to ask is: Why is the controversial letter of retirement coming at this crucial time when an all important electoral decision is to be made by the people of Edo state? Is this controversy aimed at opening Esan people’s eyes to the realities to come? Why did the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, and the governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki swiftly react to the said letters of retirement, especially bearing in mind that, such response and attention was never given to pertinent issues that emanated from the University in the past?
This divergent actions and decisions on the controversial Letters of Retirement, can only point to one fact…that, the Elimi of Esanland, the spirit of Late Prof. Ambrose Alli, have at this crucial electioneering time, risen to put right, all the wrongs done to Esanland in the past.
The Special Intervention Team, SIT, was appointed by the governor of Edo state, to supposedly ‘reposition’ Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma. How on earth will the Governor now claim not to be aware of the ‘horde’ of retirement letters that were written to the staff of the University? How can the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly claim he is not aware of the letters of retirement? Who is the Team (SIT) reporting to? Does it mean the Special Intervention Team does not brief the governor on their activities in the University?
Wait a minute please…this is clearly questionable.