A group, Aketi Legacy Movement, has raised the alarm over the untimely retirement of the Head of Service of Ondo State, Kayode Ogundele, by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The group disclosed that the move by the governor to ease Ogundele out of the civil service was part of a ploy to erase the legacy of the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, had revealed on Tuesday that Aiyedatiwa had approved the retirement of Ogundele, with immediate effect, with Bayo Philip appointed as Acting Head of Service.

In a statement signed by the publicity secretary of the Aketi Legacy Movement, Yomi Ayodele, “The recent announcement of the retirement of Mr. Kayode Ogundele, the Head of Service in Ondo State, has once again reinforced our belief that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is determined to erase every trace of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s legacy.

“The official statement from the governor’s spokesperson claimed that Mr. Ogundele’s retirement was approved by the governor.

“However, this statement seems to mislead and deceive the people of Ondo State into believing that Mr. Ogundele voluntarily resigned, attained a retirement age of 60 years, or served the required number of service years.

“It is therefore crucial for the public to understand that Governor Aiyedatiwa sacked 57-year-old Ogundele as Head of Service. He only served for 30 years.

“It is even more disheartening that Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was expected to complete the late Akeredolu’s tenure, is rapidly eroding the legacy of the late governor.”

The group disclosed that Aiyedatiwa “replaced an Ikare man with Mr. Bayo Philips, an Ilaje man, as the new Head of Service,” stressing that the governor has taken the position in his hometown.

Reacting, Adeniyan said, “If they say it’s politicised, then they are invariably saying that Ogundele was a politician or that he played politics with his position as HoS.”

He added that the decision was taken to revitalise the civil service for what he described as optimum performance.