DRAMA AS SENATOR JIMOH IBRAHIM AND FORMER WOMAN LEADER ERELU MARTINS CLASH OVER SENATE PRESIDENT AKPABIO'S APPOINTMENT TERMINATION
The former Deputy Governorship candidate in Ondo State and past Woman Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Erelu Modupe Martins has condemned the termination of her appointment as a Senior Legislative aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio without any reason.
Describing the termination of her appointment as unlawful and sheer gender disparity, Erelu Martins, who served as Deputy Director, Special Duty II for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), disclosed that she was not given any formal explanation for the development.
She said: “This action, taken without formal explanation, violates the terms of my appointment and highlights a broader issue of gender inequality in Nigerian politics.
“This kind of action coming from the exhaustive position of the Senate President is unwarranted. Public officers are expected to lead by example, yet this incident highlights the unfair treatment of women in political positions.”
Erelu Martins expressed disappointment in gender disparity in politics, saying “If it were a man, I would unlikely to be relieved of such a position without due process.
“The termination of my appointment contravenes the outlined terms, which stipulate that I could only be dismissed for good cause, with one month’s notice or salary in lieu of notice.”
She, however, disclosed that procedural requirements were not followed in her case, lamenting “the persistent misogynistic attitudes that women face in political offices in Nigeria, this must stop. I never anticipated becoming a victim of the very struggle I fought for as Women Leader in Ondo State".
“As a true progressive, I will always support the best interests of our state, even when it diverges from the ambitions of others.
“I worked diligently on the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and deserve to be treated with respect as a dedicated member of the party.”
Erelu Modupe Martins, however, called on the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio to be cautious in dealing with some individuals, particularly when women are being victimized.
She said she’s concerned about women who may be treated in like manner in the future.
‘My utmost concern is for the welfare of other women who may suffer similar injustices. I implore the Senate President to exercise caution when dealing with individuals,” Erelu Martins said.
Martins alleged that the reversal of her appointment was likely motivated by Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South-APC) following his loss in the recent governorship primary of the APC.
She emphasized strong commitment to the unity of APC, adding that as a true progressive, she would always support the best interest of the party and the state, even when it was different from the ambitions of others.
Martins, who served as the Deputy Director, Special Duty II for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said that her utmost concern was for the welfare of other women who might suffer similar injustices.
Responding to the allegation, Mr. Benjamin Ebenezer, who is a member of the Jimoh Ibrahim Campaign Group, also known as ASEYORI TEAM, described the allegation as a mere figment of imagination of Martins.
Ebenezer said that Martins was only nursing the wounds of her disloyalty.
“Modupe Akindele-Martins has been a disloyal member of the team from inception. Whereas, loyalty is 101 percent beyond mathematics.
“She has disloyalty traits after decamping from APC to Labour Party(LP); to Alliance for Democracy(AD), then to SDP where she was given the deputy governorship ticket to contest again APC during Akeredolu first tenure.
“Why crying foul?,” he asked.
Roving Reporter
.png)
0 Comments