
Governor Ibikunke Amosun of Ogun State will any-time from now dissolve his cabinet in preparation for the inauguration of his second term in office.
Amosun who was declared winner of governorship election held April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was reportedly in dilemma over the choice of new members of his cabinet to help him govern the state.
A reliable source informed Vanguard that the governor had ordered all the members of his cabinet to resubmit their Curriculum Vitae ahead of his second term inauguration.
In his first term, 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 time 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 in his second term as cabinet members.
Amosun’s Dilemma
Ahead of his second term emergence as governor, Amosun had reportedly entered into some accord with some political bigwigs in the state with a view to accommodating them by proxy in his cabinet. Those whom Amosun had reportedly sought political help from include; former President Olusegun Obasanjo who directed his ‘boys’ to work for the governor success at the poll.
Obasanjo, according to the 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 elections covertly and overtly. The slots 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 Vanguard 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 ten would be for local governments 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 boards 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 chance of compensating his numerous people.
However, the governor was said to have decided to retain few commissioners among his 20 commissioners that served in his first term administration.
A check by Vanguard showed 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 favourably considered for retention.
According to the information gathered, 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.