Controversy As Oyetola Sets To Appoint Chief Of Staff

The four days old administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state might be fast starting on controversial ground as he is set to make his first set of political appointees.

CityMirrorNews gathered that there is an ongoing disquiet in the Oyetola’s administration over the appointment of the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

Sources in the Government informed CityMirrorNews that the Governor’s kitchen cabinet has divided on his choice to appoint one Dr Charles Akinola as the Chief of Staff.

It was gathered that Akinola, an indigene of Ilesa, was chosen by the governor out of the three people considered for the office.

According to the sources, first son of the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Kabir Aregbesola, a former Commissioner for Innovation Science and Technology, Engr, Oluremi Omowaiye and former Commissioner for Sports, Special Needs and Social Protection, Comrade Biyi Odunlade had been penciled down for the CoS appointment.

However, when the news filtered that Akinola might be appointed as CoS, majority of the Oyetola’s team rejected his choice, sighting some political reasons, according to the sources.

When asked why Akinola should not be appointed, one of the sources said ‘Dr Akinola is a brilliant person, but it is politically and administrative wrong to put him in that position (Chief of Staff).

‘The immediate past governor of the state, Aregbesola is from Ilesa, the Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole is from Ilesa, the senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress-APC for Osun East Senatorial District, Hon Ajibola Famurewa is from Ilesa and the Speaker to be for Osun House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Owoeye is from Ilesa.

‘It will be politically wrong to appoint another person from Ilesa as Chief of Staff. Besides, with due respect to Dr Akinola, he cannot manage the CoS office successfully. He will surely run the Oyetola’s administration into trouble.

He is not accessible and persuasive.
‘Oyetola is not a politician, the Deputy Governor; Benedict Alabi is not a politician. We need a grassroot politician to be the Chief of Staff, it is a key office.

‘Appointing Akinola as CoS will again raise the issue of the ‘Lagos agenda’ which was used to campaign against us before the governorship election.’

CityMirrorNews gathered that the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam has been considered for the Secretary to the State Government.