State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Col David Imuse RTD has condemned alleged moves by Governor Godwin Obaseki to force Edo civil servants to attend the PDP Presidential Campaign rally scheduled for Saturday, 22 October 2022, in Benin City.
Col Imuse who expressed dismay at the moves, in the face of the governor’s uncertain status in the embattled PDP said it is worrisome that he will be seeking to shore up his dwindling political fortunes by seeking to drag Edo civil servants into politics.
In a statement signed by the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the party, Victor Ofure Osehobo, Col Imuse warned the governor against declaring Friday, a working day, a work-free day with the excuse that civil servants need to join the illegal, hollow and fraudulent event, as it negates the Public service rules.
According to the Edo APC chairman, the plot by the Governor Obaseki to hide under the Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC vs Musa cannot hold water because it did not anyway set aside or nullify rules 030422 and 030423 of the Public Service Rules.
“The extant rules bans civil servants, whether on duty or leave of absence from offering himself/herself or nominating anyone else as a candidate for any elective public office, indicate publicly his/her support of or opposition to any party, candidate or policy and engage in canvassing in support of political candidates”.
Col Imuse who advised Edo civil servants according to the statement said, “Accordingly, in the overall best interest of neutrality, harmony, integrity and development of Edo Civil Service, all civil servants are strongly advised to reject and resist every attempt to drag them into partisan politics and endeavor to completely insulate themselves.”