The Ondo State Government has suspended a civil servant for peddling fake news claiming that the governor of the state Rotimi Akeredolu is dead.
Head of Service, Pastor John Adeyemo said the worker was suspended over a death rumor of the governor which he posted on Facebook.
Adeyemi who refused to disclose the name of the offender said he has been suspended and his name forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for appropriate punishment.
He said: “Incidentally, I called Mr Governor a day before the rumour and we spoke and chatted. So, when I heard the fake news I was disturbed and was like who is this fellow carrying this terrible rumour I knew Mr Governor was alive and with vigour. So, never believed it.”
Recall that Akeredolu had began his two weeks vacation as part of his annual leave on April 1, 2022.
While the governor was away, a rumor began that he has died in a German hospital.
On his return the governor described the rumors as malicious and politically motivated.
He said: “I left the shores of this country on the March 27, 2022. I was with my party, I was physically present, I was there until the early hours of 27th March, 2022.
“Throughout 26th, I was at the convention of the APC in Abuja and everybody saw me there. I even sat with delegates from Ondo State.
” I never left them except when I left to greet delegates from South West and other areas. And it was a successful outing for us in Ondo State and for South West as well.
“And the second day, I left for Dubai, we had the annual investment meeting, which is Dubai Annual meeting and we were all there.
“So many Governors, about 13 of us were there. I went principally in respect of our Port Ondo because it was during the previous year that we had a relationship, and with the relationship with Dubai Port, I wanted to solidify.
“It was not a pleasant vacation, my vacation started on first but from 27th March 2022 it was a working visit to Dubai, I was still working, so my first 14 days did not start until 1st of April, 2022.
” I was in Dubai working about the State. About 14 States participated and each State has its stand, and I displayed what we have in Ondo State, our Bitumen, and our Mineral resources. I attended other fora to discuss and project the image of Ondo State”.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News