Osun Gov, Oyetola In Dilemma Over Cabinet Formation

By Segun Ojo-Oluwabayo

Barely ten months after the incumbent governor of Osun State, Mr Gboyega Oyetola assumed office as the Executive governor of the state, many discerning Nigerians have continued to wonder why he is yet to constitute his cabinet.

While many hastily concluded that his administration is more or less a continuation of former governor Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, who he served for eight years as Chief of Staff, some believe the delay in constituting his cabinet is a direct reflection of his subtle personality and political weakness .

The recent political developments in the state however give another dimension to the people’s thinking and view, which left many stakeholders astonished on what the quality of the long awaiting cabinet could be and it’s stamina to serve it’s statutory purpose.

The latest political arrangement, in which whoever that wants to serve as commissioner in the cabinet of governor Oyetola must emerge through ‘nomination’ from leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) at Local governments level turned out to be bizarre.

This rather unprecedented selection method of the governor and it’s party created a strong suspicion amongst political gladiators in the state, especially new members who are of the opinion that only those with strong structures would scale through such arrangement .

Findings revealed that the Oyetola’s administration might have been hijacked at the early stage by some individuals who formed the kitchen cabinet of the governor right from the campaign period.

These individuals were alleged to be the architect of ‘selective appointment and empowerment’ to favour only who stood behind Oyetola before he emerged as the governorship candidate of the APC last year.

It was further learnt that the governor’s ‘kitchen cabinet’ does not want him to appoint any person that is loyal to former governor Rauf Aregbesola into the cabinet or any sensitive position.

It appears to be a subtle policy that Governor Oyetola is not ready to reappoint anybody that had served for two terms under the Aregbesola’s administration, with the exception of one or two former commissioners.

CityMirrorNews gathered that the Governor was not too comfortable with some of the names submitted to him by the party. This further proved futile, the efforts of the party at bringing competent and popular party members into the cabinet with a view to strengthening the party at the grassroots level and preparing for future elections.

Besides, what is playing out in the scramble to make cabinet list in Osun is political gimmicks and royalty as usual.

For instance, Nathaniel Agunbiade, who was reportedly said to have made the list from Ijesha-North was never part of the ‘Ilerioluwa Team ‘ ; the political machinery that won election for governor Oyetola, unfortunately, the lopsided method of selection picked him.

Also, Mr Segun Olanibi who is nominated from Ilesa East by the APC leader and Agunbiade might not scale through because of the fact that they did not belong to the IleriOluwa structure.

Also, there have been a tensed political atmosphere in Ifelodun Local Government, as royalty appears to have taken over the genuineness for quality selection on the prism of competence and character.

The Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Adedeji has been pushing for his son, Mr Tunde Olawale who is a lecturer at the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

Olawale, apart from royal attachment has no visible antecedent of political relevance and acumen for performance.

It was gathered that while Akinrun is lobbying for his son, some political leaders in the local government are supporting Mr Adelani Baderinwa, the immediate past commissioner for Information and Strategy.

Apart from being a competent Information manager, Baderinwa is also part of the few individuals who started the ‘IleriOluwa project’. But Baderinwa later suffered a distant relationship with Oyetola because of conspiracy and the fact that he is not pushful

A source from the government house confided in the medium that the governor is confused on the choice to make between appointing Baderinwa who is competent and loyal, and honouring the Akinrun by appointing his son.

According to the source, the governor is interested in compensating those who stood by him during his campaign but also get confused on how to meet the other political interest.

It is observed that those who are frequent to the Governor are likely to have advantage ahead of other nominated politicians for appointment.

Those who are frequent to the Governor include Biyi Odunlade (Ife), Dr Obawale Adebisi (Ila), Sola Oladepo (Osogbo), Banik (Ire), among others.

All in all, the general feelings in Osun political spectrum is that, the intensity of political pressure and degree of influence from traditional institution have totally overwhelmed governor Oyetola and put him in dilemma of choosing between compromise and competence.