Reason I Retired At 48 — Former APC Nat’l Chairman

Ex-Governor of Edo State, John Odigie Oyegun, has said his refusal to compromise as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service during the Military regime led to his early retirement at the age of 48 years. VANGUARD reports.InformationGuideNigeria

Oyegun who is also a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, disclosed this during his closing remarks at the formal commissioning of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, JOOPSA, an Institution named after him by Edo State government to celebrate his 84-years birthday and 19-years meritorious service as a civil servant at the federal level.

He said “I thank you Mr. Governor Obaseki and your wife, for honouring me when I am alive. I appreciate you and today I feel much fulfilled for this. I was glad when something was named after me, getting calls all around the world that they saw a building named after me, I told them my governor did it.

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“Today, I am emphatically proud. I am proud that my name has been associated with an Institution of intense possibility. Naming this great idea after me is considered the peak of my Civil and Public Service career and I thank the governor for this honour.”

“I commend and appreciate the governor for his decision to give first class graduates of Edo extraction an automatic employment for excellent performance in their academics and offer them opportunities. This step will make Edo citizens proud wherever they are in the world.

“It shows that there are people in authority who are watching to honour citizens of the State wherever they are because they noticed that citizens of the State have distinguished themselves and will be rewarded. Nothing inspired like recognition of talents, contributions, quality and ability of individuals. When you are doing your work people notice, your bosses notice and will determine how you are judged in time to come.”

Oyegun admonished civil servants to be courageous, saying “I was called to manage the Nigeria Airways as Managing Director but refused because the Minister of Aviation was then a Military man. I refused the offer because he will not allow me to do my job. I was that fearless to tell him to his face politely that he will not let me function effectively and will lose credibility with passengers.

“I was bold to tell the Military what I want as a permanent secretary to ensure I don’t get into trouble. The IBB administration then posted me to various Ministries including that of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The first thing the Military did was send me a list of people to be retired but I am not the one to retire them but write to the Public Service Commission with reasons. I sat with my Commissioner, an Armond Commander in the Military, who could not tell me what these people did but said the instructions are from the Supreme Headquarters.JAMB Portal

“Three Military officers were appointed by the IBB regime to supervise the different import licenses and I was told that I will be the one to sign all the import licenses but I politely refused. I told them I can’t do that because I was not responsible for it and where I come from we don’t behave this way. Immediately after that conversation, I knew I would be sacked and I went to report myself to the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation at that time.

“I went to my office, instructed my secretary to prepare a resignation letter, so I can retire before the Military could sack me. We all have a decision to make, it requires courage to take major steps to maintain integrity, defend what you stand for.NYSC Portal

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“When there was a crisis at the Ministry of Internal Affairs I was the only signatory of the Nigerian Passport at that time, I did all my duties and responsibilities, maintaining my integrity. I retired at 48 years after 19 years of service.JAMB Result

“The greatest problem we have in this country is not how many beautiful roads that you construct, or schools’ roof coloured changed. We are now in a society that has lost its values, ethics, morality, and ability to tell rights from wrongs and the focus should be how to change the system and that is where JOOPSA comes in as the academy will equip those that pass through it with re-orientation of the mind indicating that service, excellent performance, and integrity matters as all will be rewarded passing through the system.”

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