OYO101: The Return of Oyo Commissioners And Its Implications For GSM Re-election Bid !! By Muftau Gbadegesin

OYO101: The Return of Oyo Commissioners And Its Implications For GSM Re-election Bid !! By Muftau Gbadegesin.

On the 29 June, 2021, Oyo state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde asked his 17 cabinet members plus his Oyo born Chief of Staff to go home. That sack came almost after two years since constituting the council. Although, Secretary to State Government, Head of Service and Director General, Due Process Office were untouched; the news of Chief Lukman Oyebisi Ilaka, the Governor’s Chief of Staff raised political dust.

As I noted on this space at that time, the sack came as a shock due in part because Chief Ilaka was the first appointed official of this administration and importantly because he was a quick reminder of the long walk that made Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo. In short, and at that time, he was the eyes of the coalition forces. His sack unraveled the simmering tension in PDP as it hits faithful coalition members like a thunderbolt which continue to manifest in various intra party fiasco that has ensued since then.

Recall last week I called the Governor’s attention to urgently appease aggrieved PDP members by taking five bold, decisive, and transparent steps or risk entering next election with a divided, polarized, and fractured party which by all ramifications will be pretty bad as such may spell doom for his re-election bid. Similarly, I added that had APC under late Senator Abiola Ajimobi entered last Gubernatorial election with a united, unified and indivisible house, an Engineer Seyi Makinde emerging the state Governor would have been considered off kilter. In other words, I argued that the sacking of Chief Bisi Ilaka marked the dead end of coalition forces which was instrumental, pivotal, propelled and fueled the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a away, and as I noted that the Governor would have to bask in the glow of his own record and achievement in office rather than rely on the inputs of those angry political bigwigs who now call for his head as they pass vote of no confidence on his kind of leadership. I pointed further that the sacking of those seven commissioners might spur the Governor to generate a fair, equitable and unifying list that will further improve and deepened the frosty relationship among party faithful.
his words after dissolving the cabinet, Governor Seyi Makinde said need to axe the executive was necessary in order to retool (and reconstitute) the cabinet.
He explained that seventeen Commissioners and the Chief of Staff (CoS) were touched. But on the 6th August, 2021, the Governor reappointed seven of the seventeen sacked commissioners. Each of the reappointed commissioners were returned back to their various ministries except Alhaji Fausat Ajoke Sanni who was moved from Ministry of Women Affairs to that of Special Duties. The commissioners include Mr. Akinola Ojo (Finance); Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN (Justice); Chief Bayo Lawal (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters) and Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin (Public Works).
Others are Mr. Ayansiju Lawal (Establishment and Training); Mr. Temilolu Ashamu (Energy and Mineral Resources) and Mrs. Faosat Sanni (Special Duties). And on the 23rd of September, the Governor announced the appointment of the remaining commissioners. This time around, he made a change in portfolio of ex-commissioner for women affairs.

Those renominated and reappointed include: former education Commissioner, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye; Youth and Sports commissioner, Seun Fakorede; Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun; Commerce Adeniyi Adebisi and the former Commissioner for Lands and Urban Planning, Abdurahman Abduraheem. Special Adviser to Makinde on Economic Matters, Prof. Babatunde Adetunji, as Commissioner for Budget and Planning, while the Incident Manager of the State’s COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Dr Taiwo Ladipo was named Commissioner for Health.

Of course, there is more to political appointment especially those of commissioners than the superficial officials duties. For instance, becoming a commissioner is an intense political lobby. Which means you don’t get it on a platter of gold. In a way, you get involve in politics of the day and become an active member of the party under which you intend to serve. The implication is that, those named commissioners are expected to work for the success of their party and principal in elections or risk losing the pecks and privilege that come to their offices. As far as this list is concerned, it’s a reflection of continued to influence this Government’s in approach to appointment and policy framework. In other words, this Government has become predictable in words and deeds. If there is anything, I think it’s unlikely the newly appointed commissioners will pull any hard hitting strings which will add needed electoral values to the re-election bid of Governor Seyi Makinde.

OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.