A brilliant and dedicated lecturer at the Edo state-owned Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education at Afuze in Owan East local government area of Edo state has been sacked over allegations that he voted for the PDP in last recently concluded Edo state governorship elections.
Mr Ohis Braimah who obviously felt there was nothing wrong in voting for the party of his choice in the election, had told some of his friends about his decision.
It was these friends, sources say, who took the information to the APC majority leader of the Edo state legislature, Mr Folly Ogedengbe, who immediately ordered for the termination of the appointment of the lecturer.
Am embattled Braimah who resumed duties at the institution a day after the elections, was shocked when he was given the sack letter by the school management.
Although neither the teacher nor the lawmaker could be reached for comments, a coalition of civil society organizations led by Comrade Adams Ogden is protesting the sack.
Officials at the institution turned down interviews on the matter and referred this reporter to the State Ministry of Education in Benin City.
An SMS to the Commissioner of Education’s phone did not elicit a reply.
Ogden said, “I want to appeal to Barr Folly Ogedengbe and the management of Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education Afuze to please reinstate Mr Ohis Braimoh who was uptil recently a lecturer at the said tertiary institution but got sacked on the instruction of Barr Folly Ogedengbe”.
“We understand that he confessed to have voted for the PDP during the governorship elections. By reason of our Constitution which guarantees freedom of association to all and our maturity as a people, our politics should mature as well”.
“Mr Ohis exercised his civil duty and shouldn’t be victimized for doing so. Please let the man get back to his job and continue to contribute to the development of Edo State”.
“The election’s first phase has passed and as we approach the next, I don’t think it makes any sense for anyone to be demonized at his place of work in the state because he voted for the PDP”.
Meanwhile, civil rights organizations and organiser of the Mandate Recovery Group that led protests in the streets of Benin after the elections, the Center for Patriotic Leadership Initiative (CPLI), has indicated readiness to lead series of protests in Afuze for the reinstatement of Ohimai and the cessation of political vendetta of the dying regime in Edo State.
