AROUND THE STATES OGUN DIRECTOR FLARES UP, THREATENS TO SLAP STAFF

By: Aliyah Kahlid

A former director of news and current affairs under punishment from Ogun State Television (OGTV), which conspicuously transferred to the Ministry of Information and Strategy with or without Governor, 

Dapo Abiodun’s consent, as Director of Information, Communication Technology and New Media, Mrs. Kemi Ewedairo-Yusuff, was reportedly flared up at a statutory meeting of the Ministry.

Ewedairo-Yusuff, who was three weeks ago accused of molesting a staff of the Ministry, and naming one of the Information Officers as numbskull/dumb skull, 

now threatened to slap another staff of the Ministry also an (Information Officer) on the allegation of murmuring, vowed to slap and beat up the officer, boasting that nothing could be done to her.

Ewedairo-Yusuff who had earlier abused the women in the Ministry, tagged them, as “yahoo women”, started bragging, banging the table, raising her voice to the extent of those in service matters chipped in and called for calm, 

behaving like a wounded lion in the ring, and like a frustrated human being, indeed, some staff of the Ministry, pleaded with the governor to relieve her from the job, saying that she had depression, which could lead to mental disorder.

According to one of the administrative officers of the Ministry, name (withheld), assured that if she does, she would be properly queried and sanctioned according to rules and regulations of the civil service of the State, 

The administration officer added that according to the Ogun State Public Service Rules “General Order”, “no officers in any of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), should use any derogatory languages to his/her subordinates, saying that it is against the rule of GO to beat up any of your staff.

It should be recalled that Ewedairo-Yusuff was alleged to be among of the staff of OGTV who leaked a video recording of the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun’s speech prepared for democracy day where the governor was stammering, 

she was then penciled down for sacking by the governor, but after some intervention by well-meaning Ogun indigenes, which including Obas, was redeployed alongside with Mr. Seyi Oladimeji (Slad) to the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

It was noted that ever since her redeployment to the Ministry, she has been threatening officers to beat them up, 

calling them all sorts of names, boasting that she has all audacity and right to do so, arrogantly saying that no one could query her if she does.

It should be noted Nigerian constitution stated that “a person who causes emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on another commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.

The staff of the Ministry demanded an apology from the director, especially for an act that is inimical to the entire staff, also need to call her to order, so as serve as a deterrent to others, saying that such foul languages and public disorder would not be condoned again.

“Indeed, the act prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders”, according to the Nigerian constitution.