…I’ m on casual leave – Scribe
By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
Secretary to Ekiti State Government (SSG), Dr. Modupe Alade, yesterday said there was no truth in the rumour making the rounds that she had resigned her appointment from Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government, saying “I have not resigned, but on a casual leave.”
The social media was awash with information of her resignation as early as 5am on Sunday, which forced the state government to use the debunk the rumour in the state owned Broadcasting Service of Ekiti state in all the news items that were ran for the whole day.
The rumour of Alade’s resignation created more anxiety owing to the fact that it came barely six days after a member of the cabinet and commissioner for Works, Mr. Kayode Oso, resigned his appointment.
What actually fuelled the insinuation more had been that Alade was slammed with indefinite suspension by Fayose in November, last year.
Justifying the suspension in a terse press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti, Fayose hinged his action on alleged incompetence of the state’s scribe in the discharge of her duties.
She was recalled back to duty after the intervention of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Chief Afe Babalola, and other well-meaning Ekiti indigenes.
Official report signed by Dr Alade on behalf of the government indicated that Oso resigned on health grounds.
But the opposition All Progressives Congress countered the position canvassed by government, saying Oso’s resignation was a fall-out of his alleged disagreement with his principal and benefactor, Fayose over alleged contract awards.
Dispelling the rumour of her alleged resignation, Alade in a statement in Ado Ekiti, said she “is presently on a two-week casual leave, commencing from Monday, April 11.”
She said it was regrettable for people to misinterpret her leave for outright resignation, adding that she remained a staunch loyalist of the governor.
Alade said she would return to her duty post after the expiration of her leave.