The Osun State Government has suspended a teacher of Masifa Community Grammar School, Masifa-Ile, for allegedly using uncouth language against the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The teacher’s suspension letter was issued by the Osun-West Education District Office and dated December 20, 2021.
SaharaReporters gathered that the teacher was suspended for posting comments and pictures in favour of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
While the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is believed to be backing TOP, Governor Oyetola belongs to another faction called IleriOluwa.
Prior to his suspension, the Office of Tutor-General had earlier queried Akinyemi.
The query letter had read, “Your postings and comments on social media for some time have been inciting and have shown that you have derailed from what you were employed to do as a teacher. You are more focused on partisan politics than your duty as a teacher and commitment to the State Government as a Civil Servant in Osun State.
“Your comments and postings have shown great disrespect to State Government and the Governor that is committed to a regular payment of wages and salaries.
“Your unpatriotic behavior, abusive and provocative postings and comments are against the Civil Service rule. Therefore, you are to explain upon receipt of this query why disciplinary action(s) should not be taken against you.
“Your explanation should reach the office of the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Osun West Education District Office on or before 12 mid-day on Friday 10th December, 2021.
“Investigation shows that several people have warned you against such provocative and controversial postings, including your colleagues and Principal but you turned a deaf ear to their warnings.
“The office is fully aware of your fundamental human right and entitlement to your opinion on social media but it is wrong for you, in fact an act of betrayal to post provocative comments against the State Governor and his Government.”
Responding to the query, the teacher explained how he worked for the emergence of Oyetola.
He noted that his being a member of the All Progressives Congress doesn’t affect his efficiency at work.
He wrote, “I refer to the query directed to me on 8th December, 2021 on the above subject matter. My involvement on social media is never to disrespect the state government and Mr. Governor.
“I was employed as a physics teacher presently at Masifa Community Grammar School, Masifa, where I always discharged my statutory obligations as expected, ranging from teaching of students as schedules on the time table and all statutory records are updated from time to time and well kept.
“I have never, and will never insult the personality of Mr. Governor and his Government. In fact, in January 2019 during the court case between Mr. Governor and Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke after the election at the election petition tribunal, Abuja. I was one of 14 witnesses that were randomly selected across the state then. The duo of Hon. Oladejo Kazeem and my humble self were the last two witnesses who gave evidence in favour of Mr. Governor before the tribunal at Federal High Court, Apo-Abuja.
“The said Hon. Oladejo Kazeem is the current chairman, Orolu LCDA. We were conveyed to Abuja then, during the said court case under the watch of; Chief Wole Olaonipekun (SAN), Barrister Kolapo Alimi and Barrister Waliu Salimon.
“Myself and Hon. Oladejo Kazeem witnessed in favour of Mr. Governor then. Despite my fundamental human right and entitlement to my opinion on social media, non of my postings and comments are neither abusive nor provocative against state government and Mr. Governor.
“I am highly committed to what I am employed for as a physics teacher and I vow to discharge my best to promote sound education in the state.”
