Oyo: Tension As Makinde Appoints New Commissioners

By James Orji

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has dashed the hopes of 10 formers commissioners’ hoping to return to his cabinet.

On June 29, the state governor sacked 17 commissioners in the state executive council, including his Chief of Staff, CoS Bisi Ilaka. A new chief of staff has since been appointed.

Intense lobby among politicians has pervaded Ibadan, the state’s capital in the last five weeks following reports that Makinde had no intentions to return majority of the sacked Commissioners to office.

Sources told the magazine that the state’s helmsman dissolved the cabinet due to complaint among politicians in the state, that they were not being carried along in the affairs of the state. Aggrieved politicians in the ruling PDP in the states accused the governor of appointing non-politicians into the state’s cabinet.

“The governor now want a mix of technocrats and politicians in the government. He needs the politicians, particularly as the 2023 election is drawing close. That’s what Governor Makinde is trying to do by forwardiñg the first batch of Commissioner-nominees to the state’s house of Assembly for clearance. The second batch will soon be sent in few days,” a close source to the governor told the magazine on Wednesday, following the nomination of seven commissioner- designates to the Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, for clearance.

The seven commissioners were among those sacked on June 29 by the governor.

The returnees are Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinola Ojo; former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Professor Dahud Sangodoyin; Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Alhaji Siju Lawal.

Others are former Commissioner for Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal; then Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Seun Ashamu and former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion,  Faosat Sanni.

It was learnt that some of the Commissioners will still retain their former portfolios, while others will be moved to other ministries “in line with the governor’s quest to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state ahead the next election,” another source in Agodi Government House said.

The state assembly which received the list on Monday, said it will conduct screening for the nominees on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, other sources said politicians whose name did not appear in the new list, and others whose candidates did not make the list forwarded to the state house of Assembly on Monday have commenced fresh lobby to ensure that their candidates make the next list.

” Governor Makinde will ensure that all interests are represented in the new cabinet. He’s a man of the people and the people interest is the cornerstone of this administration,” one of his trusted aides said.