in ,

Fear grips Amosun’s commissioners, aides over planned cabinet reshuffle, lay-off

Uneasy calm is reported to be brewing among Sen. Ibikunle Amosun’s cabinet as report has it that some of the commissioners and aides will soon be laid off to allow room for a more aggressive administration for the governor’s second term in office.

Amosun who was declared winner of the governorship election held April 11, 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was reportedly in a tight spot over the choice of new members of his cabinet to help him govern the state.

It was gathered that the governor had ordered all the members of his cabinet to resubmit their curriculum Vitae ahead of his second term inauguration.

ENCOMIUM Weekly further gathered that the country-home of Governor Amosun’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, prominently known in the Ogun political circle as Alhaji Agba has also become a Mecca of sort for those seeking one position or the other in the new arrangement.

Alhaji Agba, is believed to be the Mr. Fix it, in Amosun’s government. He is also said to have the eyes and ears of Mr. Governor.

It could be recalled that, Amosun had made use of technocrats to the detriment of party members who worked for his emergence. This gesture had pitched him against some members and leaders of the party.

His insistence to use technocrats instead of politicians who had worked for his emergence prompted many of the party stalwarts including former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his loyalists to dump the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The exit of Osoba and his loyalists which included three senators and five members of House of Representatives, as well as four members of the state House of Assembly gave Amosun free hands to operate without being challenged by anyone.

The governor who had a field day in choosing who worked with him during his first term ignored a list of commissioner-nominees submitted by Osoba who was then the party leader. Now that no one could claim to be the party leader with Osoba’s status, Amosun expectedly should have more independence to choose who works with him as cabinet members in his second term.

Ahead of his second term as governor, Amosun had reportedly entered into some accord with some political bigwigs in the state with a view to accommodating them in his cabinet by proxy. Those whom Amosun had reportedly sought political help from include; former President Olusegun Obasanjo who directed his Boys to work for the governor’s success at the poll.

Obasanjo, according to findings, did not only throw his weight behind Amosun by taking campaign to market places, he also reportedly provided logistics for the governor’s success at the poll.

Amosun is perhaps indebted to Obasanjo and his boys and must honour his pledge. Apart from the Obasanjo factor, other factors that put the governor in a fix include, the slots for those who financed his election covertly and overtly. The slots are for Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and the Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Other people who may have slots in Amosun’s cabinet include the party; his political associates, loyalists and family members.

A source hinted that the governor had instructed party leaders to submit 20 names each from the local governments.

According to the findings, five of the names would be nominees for Federal Government appointments, five for state appointments and the remaining 10 would be for local government appointments.

It was further gathered that, the governor was said to have assured the party leaders that he would pick his nominees from the names they submitted.

The governor was also quoted to have pledged to ensure that he creates some board appointments so as to create avenues for his people to benefit as a mark of compensation.

Further findings have shown that the plan by the governor to create 32 additional local council development areas to complement the 20 local governments in the state was a way to expand the chances of compensating his numerous.

However, the governor was said to have decided to retain few among his 20 commissioners that served in his first term administration.

 

Investigation has it that Commissioners for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Works and Infrastructure; Lekan Adegbite, Information, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muyiwa Oladipo and Forestry, Ayo Olubori were being considered for retention.

According to information, some commissioners are not coming back because of their poor performance while some will not be retained because of the greater appointments awaiting them.

The governor was however, said to be angry with some political office holders especially in Ogun East and West where the party did not perform well.

According to the source, some of them had collected huge money from the governor for campaign and motivation during the election, but refused to spend it.

The gesture reportedly infuriated the governor who vowed to ensure they are not returned. The governor, though, had free hand to nominate the people that would work with him, he still has challenges on who and how to choose next set of people to work with in his second term.

This time around, it was reliably gathered that the governor would use more politicians than technocrats in his second term administration.

In the same vein, the new government from what we scooped will also see some faces from the opposition party, who, because of the irreconcilable differences among PDP stakeholders decided to work underground for Amosun.

 

DAYO RUFAI

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Avatar

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

‘T.W.O Plus is the best album we’ve done,’ says TUNDE OBE

Rayce drops new album