‘Sacking’ appointees and dissolving executive councils by Governors is not new but what surrounds the sacking/dissolution seems to be a mystery to many political observers. That of Oyo State under the leadership of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde will not be an exception owing to the fact that all his appointees can not point the direction he wishes to go.
Since his assumption of office in May, 2019, only three of his aides have exited their positions unceremoniously.
These include: Adigun Ibadan who was Special Assistant on Digital Media, Professor Raphael Afonja, he was the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport and Aremo John Adeleke, he was the immediate-past chairman of Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue.
Governors including AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe; David Umahi of Ebonyi and some others have either dissolved their cabinets and retained some persons or sacked their political appointees.
Checks by GOALPOACHER NEWS within the state Secretariat where Governor’s Office is located revealed that some of the governor’s appointees, especially the commissioners have been rattled by the sudden sack of John Adeleke.
According to one of the commissioners, he said, “yes, we know one day, the governor will definitely dissolve his cabinet, the governor appointed us. He can decide to ask us to go and bring in new hands.”
When asked if he is paranoid about the rumours that their dissolution is imminent, he said, “look some of us are scared, we don’t know if the dissolution will be a total overhaul or a partial one.
‘However, God knows what is good for everyone.”
Speaking on the rumours, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Oke Ogun zone 1 who is an ally of Governor Makinde, spoke in confidence that aside the commissioners, other political appointees will be shown the exit door. He said, “are you not aware of all the recent happenings especially, the internal conflicts rocking our party? There are some loyal party members who worked tirelessly for the success of Engineer Seyi Makinde during the 2019 election but are yet to benefit from his administration.
” Excellency has promised to compensate them.”
” My point is that from the look of things, Governor Makinde will bring on board those who will consolidate on the success of his two years in office and primarily, people that command electoral value, not technocrats who can’t stand the heat and rigours of campaigns.”
“Let me burst your bubble, the governor is aware and he knows those Commissioners and appointees who always complain that the governor hasn’t released much fund to them for the running of their offices. That’s far from the truth.
” According to what I am privy to, the Governor usually give the ministries and agencies double of what they used to get during late Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. Most PDP members aren’t happy with some of them. The purpose of the office they occupy is to assist party members but they are not doing that, instead, some of them are already preparing for 2023 when the Governor hasn’t said he will be contesting in 2023. It is likely the Governor dissolves his cabinet after the match between Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) and another club side at the newly remodelled Lekan Salami Sports Complex at Adamasingba or in July.”
GOALPOACHER NEWS gathered that those who will be affected by the dissolution, especially, the Commissioners are to handover all government properties in their possession, together with their handover notes, to their respective Permanent Secretaries.
The cabinet rejigging will be part of efforts by Governor Seyi Makinde to further consolidate operations in his administration.
The dissolution maybe be done in phases.
Another source also explained that the dissolution will likely be aimed at enabling the government to carry out an appraisal of their performances.