Facebook Post: How I Was Reinstated By Osun Govt – Embattled Teacher Shares Emotional Story, Narrates Ordeal

• The reinstated teacher has narrated the story behind his reinstatement by Osun government.

THE NATION REPORTERS reports that the just reinstated teacher at Masifa Community Grammar School in Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Philip Akinyemi who was earlier suspended for allegedly abusing Governor Gboyega Oyetola, has narrated the story behind his reinstatement.

He stated this in an interview with The Nation Reporters on Wednesday evening.

While narrating the story behind his reinstatement, he said: “I was reinstated on Tuesday. Hon. Gbade Falade led me to meet with the state Commissioner of Education on Tuesday. After we appealed to him, he immediately ordered the Permanent Secretary to reverse the suspension with immediate effect. Hence I resumed back to work on Tuesday. I am now happy.”

While narrating the ordeal he faced during his suspension period, he said: ” I give thanks to God because since December 21st that the incident happened till June 14th, 2022 that I was reinstated, there are lot of things I have witnessed. I have learnt a lot of lessons that I have begun to pick each lessons in my life. I see everything as a challenge that I must passed through because if such didn’t happen, another thing will come up. And I didn’t hold any guadges against anyone.

” I thank the Governor of the state for showing mercy on me. I thank the Commissioner for Education and Hon. Gbade Falade who led me to the Commissioner.

“During the period that I was suspended, there was no money. It is the likes of Hon.Najeem Salaam, Engineer Felix Adeyeye and many others who saved me from financial crisis.”

Recall that Akinyemi was in December 2021 suspended indefinitely for posting “abusive” comments and pictures against the Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, on Facebook.

His posts on Facebook had earlier were in favour of The Osun Progressives, a faction of the All progressives Congress loyal to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in the state.

While Aregbesola is backing TOP, Oyetola belongs to another faction called IleriOluwa.”

When asked if his political position has changed, the teacher said, “I am now neutral.”

“It is true that I have been reinstated. I am happy and I thank the government,” he added.

In the suspension letter, the teacher was alleged to have breached the state’s Civil Service Rule.

Akinyemi, who was queried earlier on December 8 for “disrespecting” the governor on Facebook, was one of the witnesses of APC at the election petition tribunal in 2019 during the case between Oyetola and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke.

A copy of his suspension letter dated December 20, 2021, and signed by E. O. Onatola, read, “I am directed to inform you that as a result of your actions of professional misconduct and abuse of Office, your actions created public assault to the authority concerned.

“The Ministry of Education/Osun West Education District Office came up with the following decisions:

“It is a fact that you Mr. AKINYEMI PHILIP a teacher of Masifa Community Grammar, Ejigbo. You are more focused on partisan politics than your duty as a teacher and commitment to the State Government as a Civil Servant in Osun State.

“Your unpatriotic behavior, abusive and provocative postings, and comments on social media are against the Civil Service rule. Unless contacted beforehand, you are not permitted to enter the school premises.”

When our correspondent visited Akinyemi’s Facebook page, it was observed that the teacher, who is a staunch member of APC, had posts promoting TOP.

Part of the query letter read, “Your postings and comments on social media for some time have been inciting and have shown that you have derailed from what you were employed to do as a teacher. You are more focused on partisan politics than your duty as a teacher and commitment to the State Government as a Civil Servant in Osun State.

“Your comments and postings have shown a great disrespect to State Government and the Governor that is committed to a regular payment of wages and salaries.”