Governor Oyetola In Confusion As Ife, Iwo Demand Chief Of Staff Appointment

The appointment of Chief of Staff to the Governor has thrown the new Governor of Osun, Mr Gboyega Oyetola into confusion, CityMirrorNews learnt.

Oyetola, according to some of his close aides, is confused on who to appoint as his Chief of Staff, following a protest against his choice on Dr Charles Akinola, last week.

CityMirrorNews gathered that Oyetola in under pressure from some people, including traditional rulers, to appoint their candidates as CoS.

According to the sources, Oyetola is making consultations on which of the political zones in Osun should his Chief of Staff comes from, to have a balanced distribution of political offices.

It was learnt that the new governor might be considering Iwo and Ife for the CoS appointment, following some agitations from the areas.

The immediate past Chief of Staff, Hon Rasak Salinsile is from Iwo and he is also interested in occupying the office again.

Apart from Salinsile, CityMirrorNews learnt that some other politicians who were of the view that the zone deserved the CoS appointment have been lobbying for the office.

Also, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress and some eminent indigenes of Ife have been clamouring for the CoS appointment on the ground that the ancient town is the only zone that has no key political office in the Ife/Ijesa senatorial district.

CityMirrorNews learnt that the ‘Ifes’ were anxiously expecting Governor Oyetola to choose his Chief of Staff from Ife because of the electoral value and strength of the zone, particularly the turnout of votes for the APC in the last governorship election.

An APC chieftain, who preferred not to be named, said ‘Ife should not be cheated in the political appointment. We deserved good and principal political office. Since the APC leadership had taken decision on the Secretary to the State Government, they should consider Ife for the CoS.

“Ife has no key political office, why Ilesa has been loaded for about four important political offices.

“We have competent APC chieftain that can manage the CoS office successfully. We have a former House of Representatives member, Hon Rotimi Makinde, who is brilliant, exposed and calm. We have a former Commissioner for Tourism and Home Affairs, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun who served former governor Rauf Aregbesola very well in his first term.

“We have Comrade Biyi Odunlade who just completed his tenure with Aregbesola as commissioner for Sports and Special Needs. Besides, we have a serving brilliant Senator, Babajide Omoworare who has been a loyal party member and a brilliant person to serve as CoS.

“The Governor is free to choose any of the mentioned people. Ife deserved the Chief of Staff appointment. The Governor should consider us.”

Findings revealed that some of the APC chieftains in Ife have been lobbying Senator Iyiola Omisore for the CoS appointment, asking him to talk to the new governor on their behalf.

Omisore, who was the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the September 22 governorship election, worked for the APC during the September 27 rerun election.

It was gathered that the APC chieftains believed that Omisore will have influence in the Oyetola’s administration; hence they resolved to solicit his support.