The rift between the Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, and his Vice Chairman, Mrs. Emojevwe Onajite, has come into the open, with the council boss accusing his deputy of deceit, betrayal of trust and gross insubordination.
Oyibode, who broke his silence during an interview, said he had refrained from commenting on the matter but was compelled to speak following persistent enquiries over the frosty relationship between him and his deputy.
According to him, honesty remains the bedrock of any working relationship, insisting that once trust is broken, it becomes almost impossible for him to continue working with such a person.
“Once you lie to me, I find it difficult to work with you again because I can no longer trust you.”
The council chairman alleged that Mrs. Onajite was dishonest with him from the outset despite the confidence and support he gave her.
He said he regarded her as someone very close to him, often taking her on official engagements and offering her personal and political guidance.
“I treated her like my daughter. I advised her to protect her marriage and to be careful in politics because some politicians who take advantage of women are often the same people who later tarnish their image,” Oyibode stated.
The chairman further alleged that the vice chairman contested for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly without informing him, describing the action as a breach of political loyalty.
“If you are serving under someone, you don’t just go and contest an election without informing your principal. She did not tell me before contesting. That was wrong,” he said.
Oyibode also alleged that Mrs. Onajite aligned herself with a political pressure group opposed to his interests, saying the development further eroded the trust between them.
Describing her alleged actions as “gross insubordination” and “gross misconduct,” he maintained that loyalty remained one of the cardinal principles of public service.
“If the governor gives an instruction, I obey it because he is my boss. That is what loyalty means,” he added.
Meanwhile, the reported rift appeared to have played out publicly during the recent activities marking the second anniversary of the Udu Local Government administration.
The vice chairman’s presence was noticeably absent throughout the events commemorating the council’s two years in office, as she was seen sitting as an invited guest to an event should would have participated in her capacity.
Although Mrs. Onajite attended the event, she did not perform any official role as vice chairman, instead, she sat among invited guests throughout the ceremony, a situation that drew the attention of many people at the event and further fueled reports of a rift between the two council leaders.
Neither the chairman nor the vice chairman explained why she did not participate in the programme in her official capacity.
When contacted, Mrs. Emojevwe Onajite requested two days to respond to the allegations. After the period elapsed, she reportedly said she had been ill.
On a subsequent telephone call seeking her response and possible reconciliation with the council chairman, she reportedly stated, ‘I am not interested’ as she hanged up telephone conversation abruptly.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Vice Chairman, Mrs. Emojevwe Onajite, were unsuccessful. Her response to the allegations was not available, although she is expected to be given the opportunity to present her side of the story.
