Okowa Suspends Aide Over Social Media Post Of N3.5bn Grant To Delta First Lady

Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has suspended his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Ovie Success Ossai, without salary for two months.

Sahara Reporters, an online news platform reports that the suspension of the governor’s aide was not unconnected with a post he made on his Facebook page of a grant of N3.5bn given to the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Edith Okowa.

It would be recalled that few days ago, a United States based non-profit organisation, the Initiative for Global Development, had through its Chief Executive Officer, Leila Ndiaye, at a sickle cell sensitisation forum organised by 05 Initiative in New York announced a donation of $10m in support of Mrs. Okowa’s pet project, 05 Initiative, for the management of sickle cell disease in Delta State.

Sahara Reporters says that a top government official revealed that Ossai’s sin was that he issued a statement on his Facebook page amplifying the $10m grant to Mrs. Okowa.

Sources from the government said the disciplinary measure meted on Success is to serve as a deterrent to others to be careful with the posts they make on social media platforms.

When contacted over the issue, Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Aniagwu, said, “I am in en Executive meeting now. I don’t yet have the details.”

Meanwhile, Ossai, declined making any statement when contacted by Oasis Magazine (OM).