Ex-council commission boss denies claim

THE Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plans by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to victimise civil servants who are perceived loyalists of the opposition party by transferring them to remote parts of the state.

According to the PDP chairman in the state, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, the state government had since the last general elections compiled the names of civil servants in its employment believed to have supported other parties against the APC during the polls.

But the immediate past Chairman of Local Government Service Commission in the state, Alhaji Kayode Yusuf, described Oyedepo's comments as political, urging him to learn the 'modus operandi' of the Civil Service.

Oyedepo, in a chat with The Guardian yesterday in Ilorin, said the PDP would employ all legal and moral means to stop such moves, described as "obsolete, undemocratic and witch hunting exercise."

According to the PDP chairman, "many of our supporters in Edu, Patigi, Irepodun, Ifelodun and Ekiti local councils are already complaining of threats of transfer by their employer.

"These innocent civil servants merely exercised their rights and we are surprised that some people are planning their massive transfer to the remotest parts of the state as a way of punishing them for voting for the PDP in the last elections. We are with them and we are ready to challenge this in a court of law of competent jurisdiction.

"Oyedepo, who promised a potent opposition system against the APC government in the state, urged PDP members in Kwara "who can not hold their stomachs, thinking that there is food in the APC " to have a rethink and uplift the fortunes of the PDP in the state.

Yusuf, in refuting the allegation noted that, "Oyedepo's comments on this issue are purely political. They are very strange to civil service rules. Civil servants worldwide have rules and regulations that guide their appointment, promotion, transfer and even dismissal in some cases.

"These civil servants should peruse their letters of appointment and see what we are talking about. They should not equally forget in a hurry their acceptance letters.

Just as those in the local council could be transferred to any of the existing 16 councils in the state, so could any civil servant in the services of the state be posted to any part of the state."

He cited the case of one Mrs. Adiza Abdulrahaman, said to be a staunch supporter of the APC, but was recently transferred from Ilorin the state capital to Asa local council, adding, "she resumes work daily at Asa and returns to Ilorin. Is that victimisation or posting according to the need?"