Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has lifted the suspension of the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, directing him to return to office after 10 weeks from the date of his suspension.
Oborevwori announced the decision on Tuesday, during the swearing-in of the auditor-general and members of the governing councils of University Of Delta, Agbor, Southern Delta University, Ozoro and Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, at Government House, Asaba.
The governor said Izeze has appealed for forgiveness and indicated his willingness to return to the public and address the circumstances surrounding his suspension.
Oborevwori disclosed that the commissioner sent him a message on Tuesday morning, asking for forgiveness and requesting that the governor inform the public that he has recently returned from the correctional facility.
Reacting to the appeal, the governor said public officials must understand that occupying government positions comes with responsibility and that nobody is above the law.
“Let me talk for a minute about one commissioner who was suspended. He sent me a message this morning that I should forgive him.
“He doesn’t know me, and he was telling me what to say; that I should tell the public that he is just coming from Okere Prison. Is that my business?
“I always tell people that my kind of system is different. If someone like me has changed my style, this is not the sheriff of 20 years ago.
“So, when you are in government, you must behave well because nobody is above the law,” Oborevwori said.
The governor, however, said Izeze’s decision to seek forgiveness and appear before the public despite the suspension contributed to his decision to reconsider the sanction.
“But because you have pleaded and really removed that shame and you came to face the public, even as people know that you are under suspension, from where you were suspended is not yet two months,” he said.
Oborevwori added that Izeze would be allowed to resume once the suspension period reaches 10 weeks.
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“But I will say that when it completes 10 weeks from the day of your suspension, you can resume work,” the governor stated.
Izeze was suspended indefinitely by the Delta State Government on August 10 following allegations that he was involved in the alleged assault of the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple.
The alleged incident occurred during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting at the Petroleum Training Institute in Effurun, Delta State.
At the time, the state government said the suspension was necessary to enable security agencies to investigate the allegations without interference.
Before his suspension, Izeze had been arraigned before a Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun over the alleged assault and was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Okere, Warri.
Reports at the time indicated that the court ordered his remand for 14 days pending further proceedings.
The suspension subsequently attracted appeals from groups and political stakeholders who urged the governor to reconsider the decision and allow the commissioner to return to office.
