Osun: Adeleke Nominates One Woman, Aregbesola’s Loyalists,  Namesake,  Commissioners-Designate

By Ayodele Oni

Women have been seriously short-changed in the list of Commissioner-nominees sent to the Osun House of Assembly by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Out of the 25 names forwarded by the Governor, only one woman was included. Included also, to confirm his good working relationship with the All Progressives Congress, APC faction of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, are two loyalists of the former Governor.

Another nominee, Ademola Adeleke, a namesake of the Governor, is also,  among  thee 25  nominees whose names were made public on Friday by Osun State House of Assembly.

Governor Adeleke had announced last week that the names of his Commissioners were already with the Assembly, which members were then on recess after their inauguration.

Speaker of the Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, during plenary, announced the names of the nominees and Special Adviser-nominees as forwarded to the Assembly by  Governor  Osun State Adeleke.

The Speaker read the Governor’s letter containing the nominees to Members of the House of Assembly at Plenary on Friday, 7th July, 2023.

It could not also be assertained whether the nominee, that shares same name with the Governor is his relation.

Two members of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s cabinet, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, who served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Biyi Odunlade, who was Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Sports were also included in the list.

This further affirmed the loyalty of the former Minister’s faction in the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during last year’s election.

The Nominees are: Barr. Oladosu Babatunde, Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe, Mr Sesan Epharaim Oyedele, Barr. Kolapo Alimi and Mr Soji Ajeigbe.

Others are Mr Moshood Olalekan Olagunju, Hon. George Alabi, Hon. Sunday Olufemi Oroniyi, Mr. Abiodun Bankole Ojo, Dr. Basiru Tokunbo Salami, and Mr Morufu Ayofe.

Also in the list are Mr Sola Ogungbile, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Mrs Ayo Awolowo, Barr. Wole Jimi Bada, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, Alh. Rasheed Aderibigbe, Prof. Morufu Ademola Adeleke, Mr Adeyemo Festus Ademola, Mr Olabiyi Anthony Odunlade, Barr. Jola Akintola, Hon. Mayowa Adejorin, Mrs Adenike Folashade Adeleke, Mr Tola Faseru and Alh. Ganiyu Ayobami Olaoluwa.

The House of Assembly has also set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to conduct preliminary screening of the nominees before they will appear before the House for full screening and confirmation.

The process will be completed in good time.