by Kolapo Olapoju

What’s the possibility that Ayo Fayose may have just sacked a Permanent Secretary in the state’s civil service for being chummy with former governor, Kayode Fayemi?

The appointment of Permanent Secretary in charge of the Office of Establishment, Tunde Alokan, has reportedly been terminated by the Ekiti state governor.

According to Punch Newspapers’ source, Alokan was let go simply because of his closeness to Fayemi.

Apparently, Alokan drew the ire of Fayose when Fayemi attended the burial of his late father held in Efon Alaaye in February.

The story gets a bit more complicated… and interesting.

Another Government House source revealed that Tokunbo Alokan, the elder brother of the sacked permanent secretary, who is a Director on Grade Level 16 “is also on his way out of the civil service.”

And just like his brother, he is also suffering from the Fayemi’s attendance of their late father’s burial.

The source told Punch that: “After the burial, the following week, his elder brother who is also a civil servant was asked to report at the Office of Establishment. A panel was set up to investigate Mr. Tokunbo with the younger brother (Mr. Tunde) mandated to chair the panel an offer which he turned down.”

“Although the two of them were to be sacked the same day, that of the elder brother was put on hold to pave the way for his investigation and interrogation by the panel.”

“Since his younger brother turned down the offer to chair a panel raised to try Mr. Tokunbo, another person will be appointed to perform the task and your guess is as good as mine on the result that would come out of the panel.”

However, Fayose says its all hogwash, stating that the dismissal of Alokan had nothing to do with Fayemi attending his late father’s burial ceremony.

Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, he said, “The governor has the power to hire and fire. The position of a permanent secretary is political and is at the discretion of the governor; enough of this blackmail.”

“Fayemi also sacked some permanent secretaries while in office, so what has happened is not new. The governor is not aware that Dr. Fayemi attended Alokan’s late father’s burial, so attributing his sack to that is cheap blackmail.”