Delta state commissioner for higher education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, has reacted to his sack.
Although the reason for his sack is yet to be made known at the time of this report, the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Kingsley Asibogwu as the new Commissioner for Higher Education held on Tuesday in Asaba.
Reacting to the development, Muoboghare, in a phone conversation, said he holds no grudge against the governor.
He said: “I have worked with this government for seven years and I cannot complain that I have not been part of this government because I have been part of it for a whole 7 years.
“In the first tenure of Okowa, I was a Consultant on Educational Matters where I was placed actually above commissioner; that’s the truth of the matter and for the second tenure I was a commissioner for more than 3 years.
“I cannot say that the man has not done well and I cannot hold a grudge against the governor for that. He kept me for good 7 years; very few persons can survive that. I cannot be angry with the government of Delta state too. I have served 4 years as a commissioner in Uduaghan’s tenure and in Okowa’s first tenure I was a consultant for educational matters and in his second tenure, I served as a commissioner.
Furthermore, he said: “In our time, 3 universities were established and I think I can go home with that.”
Asked what led to his sack, he said: “The truth of the matter is that the governor owes nobody any explanation or reason for appointing or releasing a commissioner. No exam was given to us that I passed and it is left for him to say “this man has spent enough time in government and should be released. Let me bring some new blood.”
He added: “You know this is injury time and as you are getting older, you should not be playing injury time football. I appreciate him for giving me the opportunity to work with him for 7years and I also thank God that the 7 years I worked with him not wasted because those 7 years coordinated the 3 universities that are in Delta state and despite the strike, Delta State Universities, polytechnics and colleges of educations are still running while others are on strike. Kudos to Okowa!
“All the tertiary institutions in Delta state are in their second semester and are preparing to admit students for the 2022/2023 academic session when others have not started 2021/2022 academic session. The credit goes to the governor”
