…she is just a staff in the ministry, commissioner debunks allegation
Yenagoa—The social media space in Bayelsa went agog some days ago when one Imomoemi Otutu posted a story accusing the Commissioner of Education in the state of having an affair with his confidential secretary, who happens to be the wife of a former Rector of the state-owned International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (IITH), Yenagoa.
But in a disclaimer signed by Onisoman Kos-Ikah, his media assistant, Hon. Gentle Emelah debunked the story stating that he is being blackmailed.
“Let it be known that the said man alleged to be crying out has at several times expressed sadness and frustration that his inability to take financial responsibility of his home following his loss of job, which has affected his state of mind, fractured the once cordial and peaceful relationship with his wife and made her disrespectful.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commissioner does not have any amorous relationship with the said man’s wife other than that she is a staff in his Ministry.
“The Commissioner considers this an unnecessary distraction and insists the said Man would do himself more good if he is able to find ways to fix his livelihood and manage his family rather than mischievously drag Dr Gentle Emelah into his heartbreak,” the disclaimer reads in part.
In an exclusive interview with Mangrovepen.ng, Dr. Samuel Timi Johnson, narrated to our reporter that he began having issues with his wife, Mrs. Tombra Eyeoyibo Johnson, after she was transferred to the office of the commissioner to work as his secretary.
“My marriage began to deteriorate when my wife was transferred to work in the office of the commissioner as his secretary.
“He calls my wife at odd hours. There was a time when he called her and I confronted her because I didn’t like the kind of words she was using over the phone.
“It got to a time when the disrespect was too much from my wife, we just greet and that’s all. For months, we don’t relate like husband and wife.
“When she’s in the kitchen, toilet, or bathroom, she goes with her phone because she is expecting the boss to call her,” he said.
Johnson, a former Rector of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (IITH), Yenagoa, accused the commissioner of visiting his wife at odd hours.
He alleged that “it got to a stage that Gentle Emelah started coming to our house sometimes as early as 6:15 am to give her money.
“Sometimes she will just tie rapper to go and meet him outside.
“She goes to work by 7:30 am and comes home by 6:40 pm from Monday to Friday. She rarely comes home early. We were really having serious issues at home because of her job.
The former rector further revealed that upon his return from a journey, he found out that his “wife had packed all her things and left the house unannounced on the 30th of October, 2021.
“I later found out that the commissioner had paid a one-bedroom apartment for her.”
He debunked claims by the commissioner that the bane of his marital problem was because of his inability to live up to his financial responsibility as a husband.
According to him, “That is a damn lie! Or is that the reason he was coming to my house by 6:00 am? Is he the one footing my bills?”
Johnson dismissed claims of lobbying the commissioner for reappointment as rector of IITH, stating that, the commissioner refused to intervene in his marriage after he was approached by both families.
“The commissioner cannot reappoint me, he’s not the governor. He doesn’t have a say.
“Our both families have tried to settle this issue. The commissioner was even approached to help talk to her to come back home, but he said he can’t talk to her because it is a family issue and he doesn’t want to be part of it.
“He wants my wife to be around, so he can be sleeping around with her.
“He is deceiving her that he is going to the House of Representatives and is going to make her his secretary,” Johnson alleged.
He pleaded with Governor Douye Diri to wade into the matter.
Mangrovepen.ng cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the documents and other claims made in this report.
