In a surprise move less than two weeks before the governorship election in Edo State, four aides to Governor Godwin Obaseki have stepped down from their roles.
The aides, who were Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) to the governor, also left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Dr. Pamela Archer resigned as Special Adviser to the Owan East Local Government Council.
Their resignation letters, dated September 4 and September 6, 2024, were sent to the chairman of the council and the leaders of their respective wards.
The four former aides are Osayande Emenya, from Ward 6, Henry Osaheni Ukato, also from Ward 6, Efosa Edo-Osagie from Ward 6 in Oredo local government, and Timothy Edokpolor from Ward 8 in Ikpoba Okha local government area.
Emenya, who used to be the Youth Leader of Ward 6 and the organizing secretary of Oredo local government, and Efosa Edo-Osagie, both said they were resigning because they hadn’t been paid since their appointment. They also felt marginalized within the party.
“We are resigning because we value fairness and justice, which we feel are no longer present in our party at the ward levels. We have been overlooked despite our hard work,” they stated.
They expressed gratitude to the party leadership and Governor Obaseki for their time and opportunities.
Pamela Archer’s resignation from her position as Special Adviser at Owan East Council, effective September 4, 2024, was due to concerns over decision-making processes. She explained, “It has been an honor to serve, but I’ve noticed that decisions are made without considering the input of the council’s executives. This lack of inclusiveness has made it hard for me to do my job effectively.”
Archer, who values a collaborative approach to governance, added, “I believe in a system where different viewpoints are considered to make the best decisions for our community. Unfortunately, the current approach doesn’t reflect these values, and I feel my contributions are not valued.”
She hopes her resignation will lead to a more inclusive and participatory approach to governance in Owan East.
