Segun Idowu, a top Wu cabinet official investigated in a Boston City Hall personnel scandal, slammed news and opinion coverage around the circumstances of his resignation this week.
Idowu took to his personal Facebook page Thursday to respond to news reports and commentary pertaining to his decision to resign from his post as Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion at the end of February.
“I was not forced out of my job,” Idowu wrote. “I was not asked or coaxed into leaving. And I have to make categorically clear that my departure has nothing to do with the utter nonsense of this past summer.
“There are certain opinion writers and newspapers who make their bones off of fomenting rage, and certain community members and elected officials who find their relevance in peddling false narratives. In this sour age of mis- and disinformation, you are hearing directly from the primary source that none of this is true,” Idowu added.
Idowu’s post doesn’t name the “opinion writers and newspapers” he’s referring to.
The Herald and other outlets in their reports this week have referenced allegations made by an ex-city employee who filed a lawsuit against the City of Boston last September that accuses Idowu of propositioning her and alleges the city fired her to protect him.
Idowu said his departure was a personal decision, and that it was one he did not come to lightly. He said he resigned to spend more time with his grandmother, whom he has been helping to care for while balancing his “24/7 job” with the city.
“My maternal grandparents have been the most important individuals in my life,” Idowu wrote. “I was in a college study hall in 2012 when I learned that my grandfather died at 92. I refuse to be in my office, at a meeting, or at an event and learn that my 98-year-old grandmother has passed away without me by her side.”
Mayor Michelle Wu issued a statement Sunday night praising Idowu’s time with the city, saying “Boston’s neighborhoods have become more vibrant, inclusive and connected” during his tenure as chief of economic opportunity and inclusion.
“His work has helped Boston rebound from the pandemic as a thriving city where companies want to work and live,” Wu said. “I’m thankful for his service to the city of Boston and dedication to our community.”
Idowu held his position during Wu’s first, four-year term. His exit follows two other high-ranking Wu officials — ex-Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge and Wu’s ex-chief of staff Tiffany Chu — who left after the mayor’s reelection in November.
His resignation is effective Feb. 27. Idowu was paid $183,653 last year, per city payroll records.
Idowu’s departure comes after months of scrutiny over his alleged involvement in a City Hall love triangle that left two employees fired after a domestic dispute last May.
Marwa Khudaynazar, the city’s ex-chief of staff for the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, filed a lawsuit against City Hall last September that claims the city “destroyed” her life by unfairly firing her to protect Idowu, a top Wu administration official, and spare the mayor of a scandal during an election year.
Khudaynazar claims that Idowu, the city’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion and the boss of her then-boyfriend Chulan Huang, bought her a drink and propositioned her, which sparked the alleged domestic dispute between her and Huang that led to both of their arrests and dismissals days later by the city.
“Mr. Idowu made sexual advances, touching Khudaynzar’s lower back,” the lawsuit states. “His (phone) screen showed a reservation at the Boston Park Plaza hotel — Mr. Idowu invited Khudaynazar to join him there. Khudaynazar declined. Mr. Idowu walked Khudaynazar to her car, and he kissed her there. Khudaynzar drove him to his hotel and left him there.”
Idowu has denied any wrongdoing through his attorney, Jeffrey Robbins, who also represents the Herald, while pointing to a city-commissioned investigation that found he did not violate any city workforce policies.
Wu has stated Khudaynazar and Huang, the ex-neighborhood business manager for the city’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, were fired for their “invoking of official status” as city employees to try to avoid being arrested during a police response.
Despite slamming some news reports around the matter, Idowu said the response to his resignation has been more of a mixed bag and that he knows his presence will be missed at City Hall.
“I cannot begin to express my profound gratitude and the deep humility I have felt with the outpouring of congratulations, gratitude, support, and sincerest expressions of sadness at this news,” Idowu wrote. “I know this news has come as a surprise to some and is not ideal as many have relied on my advocacy and assurances and record of delivering for those who need it most.
“Though I will no longer bear the title of ‘Chief’ after February,” he said, “our shared vision for Black economic prosperity, a stronger and respected middle class, a city that creates on-ramps to opportunity for everyone, including our poorest neighbors, will continue to be my chief priority in whatever I do next.”
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