Lagos, Nigeria – Workers at the Ondo State Ministry of Justice erupted in jubilation on Wednesday after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the dissolution of his cabinet and the sacking of the Justice Commissioner, Charles Titiloye.

Titiloye, who had been accused of high-handedness and arrogance by the workers, was booed and taunted as he left his office under police protection. A video circulating on social media showed the workers singing abusive songs and chanting, “Titiloye has locked himself up, he can’t step out.”

The governor’s decision to dissolve his cabinet came barely two months after he assumed office following the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died of prostate cancer in Germany. Aiyedatiwa had served as Akeredolu’s deputy since 2020 and was sworn in as the substantive governor on December 27, 2023.

A New Dawn for Ondo State?

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor said he had relieved all the Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants of their duties, adding that the development would take immediate effect.

“All members of the cabinet are to immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices. The governor thanks the affected officials for their services and contributions to the development of the state,” the statement read.

The governor did not give any reason for the dissolution, but political analysts said it was a move to assert his authority and stamp his own vision on the state. Some also speculated that it was a response to the intervention of President Tinubu, who had mediated in the crisis that resulted from Akeredolu’s failure to hand over to his deputy after he returned from Germany in September 2023.

A Hopeful Future for the Sunshine State

Ondo State, also known as the Sunshine State, is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and has a population of about 4.5 million people. The state is rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas, bitumen, and cocoa, but also faces challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and poor infrastructure.

The people of Ondo State have high expectations from their new governor, who has promised to continue the legacy of his late boss and implement policies that will improve the welfare and well-being of the citizens. Aiyedatiwa has also pledged to work with the federal government and other stakeholders to tackle the issues affecting the state and the country at large.

As the workers at the Ministry of Justice celebrated the departure of Titiloye, they also expressed their hope that the governor would appoint a more competent and humane person to replace him. They said they looked forward to a new dawn of justice and fairness in the state.

Source: Punch