Former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, says refusal to compromise as permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service during the General Ibrahim Babangida-led military regime led to his early retirement at the age of 48 years.
The former Edo state governor made this revelation on Saturday in his closing remarks at the formal commissioning of the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy, an institution named after him by the Edo state government to celebrate his 84th birthday and 19 years of meritorious service as a civil servant at the federal level.
In his remarks, Odigie-Oyegun said: “I was bold to tell the military what I wanted as a Permanent Secretary to ensure I don’t get into trouble. The Ibrahim Babangida regime then posted me to various ministries, including 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 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 were from the Supreme Headquarters.
He further disclosed that three officers were appointed by Babangida’s government to supervise different import licences, and he was ordered to sign all the import licences, but he politely refused.
“I told them I couldn’t do that because I was not responsible for it, and we don’t behave this way where I come from.”
The elder statesman also disclosed that he knew that conversation would lead to his sack but he went to the Head of Service to report himself
“I went to my office, and instructed my secretary to prepare a resignation letter, so I could retire before the military could sack me. We all have a decision to make, it requires courage to take major steps to maintain integrity, and defend what you stand for.”
Oyegun also said that when there was a crisis at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was the only signatory of the Nigerian Passport at that time and vowed that he did all his duties and responsibilities with integrity before retiring at age 48 after 19 years of service.”
The celebrant, who commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his developmental strides in Edo and transformation of the state civil/public service, called on civil servants to be committed, dedicated and upright in their service.
