Reservations, Mixed Feelings Trail Ekiti New Commissioners’ List; No Youth, Muslims Grumble

By Ayodele Oni

The list is a disappointment, a setback for those that had wished Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji will have a break from the past, as he had promised to give the State, for the first time, an opportunity to test another crop of intellectuals, that abound in the State right to be part of governance.

On Tuesday, the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, unveiled a list containing names of nominees for Commissioners as submitted by the Governor to the Assembly.

The list has been greeted by mixed feelings as, surprisingly, it contains the old and worn out politicians, some of them coming on board for the third time as Commissioners in a State that prides itself as the fountain of knowledge.

Is this the best the Committee set up by the Governor to move round the State and unearth the best hands it could get? Or another imposition from those that are afraid to quit the corridors of power after the expiration of their tenure.

From the first set of three Commissioners appointed by Oyebanji, it is glaringly evident that there is still a big masquerade behind the throne, that wants his cohorts to entangle the Governor and possibly arm- twist him in the course of governing the State, says analysts.

They note that the promise to involve the youths in governance to tap their fresh knowledge is thrown into the dustbin. Going through the list as presented by the Assembly, none of the nominees is 40 years or below.

However, Oyebanji is always quick to say he is not being teleguided, but all his action point to that direction, they note.

Eight months into his administration, it is pointed out,  he has found it difficult to pick his Chief of Staff, a personal aide. This is because his choice does not go down well with the power behind the throne. There is no doubt that the Governor is still enjoying the people’s applaud for some of his intervention programmes but the list of Commissioners is a set back.

From the religious point of view, the list, also, falls short of taking care of the interest of Muslims in the state as only a nominee is a Muslim out of 21.

The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has drwan the attention of the governor to the perceived marginalization which the Muslims condemned, describing it as unacceptable.

President, Nigerian Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaj(Dr) Hammed Afolabi Bakare in a statement  urged governor, to, as matter of urgency, revisit the list and make amend in the interest of peace .

“The entire Muslims in Ekiti State wish to express their dissatisfaction with this continuous marginalization as we have through various platforms engaged and showcase Muslims professionals and competent persons within the society who have participated dearly in the development of the state in various capacity.

“We urge the Executive Governor to revisit our application to ensure he run an all inclusive government that showcase religious equality in Ekiti State as against what was recorded in previous government.”

Oyebanji had earlier appointed an Islamic faithful, Alhaja Adubiaro as Secretary to the State Government.

The list is a mixed grill among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) especially those whose names were shortlisted by the appointment Committee for commissionrship but were not picked. The consolation is now that there still remain hundreds of position to be filled in the administration, hoping that some of them may still9 be lucky.