PDP This week has been a very important one in the life of every resident and lovely people of Osun State as the Governor of the State, Ademola Adeleke unveiled the names and portfolios of his nominees who serve as the Commissioners in his cabinet. This was followed by the announcement of the names of the Chairmen of the non-statutory boards in the state.
Looking keenly at the names, professional qualifications, and geopolitical relations between the newly appointed Commissioners, the State Governor, and the ministries or board given to them, one could bitterly recall how the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chose to accidentally hand over the state to an unprofessional nepotist.
Beginning with the Governor's decision to appoint himself as the Commissioner for Works, one would be convinced that the interest of the incumbent administration could be mainly on the state's meagerly available resources and not the development of the state.
It is pathetic and worrisome for the Osun State people, to have no professionally competent Commissioner for Works, at this strategic point in time. It is worrisome that this selfish decision may draw the state back at a worsening rate than anyone can imagine.
Yes, Aregbesola did it during his first term in Office, but we should remember that Aregbesola was not just an Engineer, he was a two-term former Commissioner for Works in Lagos State. He has gathered years of experience with a notable record of contacts with the right channels and people that he may need to get the work done, then. Unlike him, Governor Adeleke has no link to any form of professional prerequisites that may qualify anyone for heading the pace of advancing the Structural and Infrastructural development in the state.
Besides, Governor Ademola Adeleke in his new cabinet split the Ministry of Youths and Sport into two separate Ministries. This is coming at a time when the state is dealing with diminished state allocation and is in dire need of immense growth and development. At a time when other state Governors are cutting the cost of running government by reducing the number of their Ministries, it is pathetic that Osun State Governor, for a reason considered to be selfish and anti-people, decided to increase the number of Ministries by splitting a Ministry into two.
States like Rivers, Delta, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, and even Ondo State may appoint Commissioner for Energy but it is still unclear what the Governor meant by creating a new Ministry for Energy.
Does the Governor mean the Ministry of Energy will supervise the Solid Minerals in the state? Is Osun State aiming to acquire a Power Generating Plant, until Mr. Governor releases the mandate of the Commissioner for Energy, that ministry is either set up in error, set up for hidden agenda, or set up to serve a private purpose that may be beneficial to the Governor alone.
Most painstakingly, going through the list of the 27 Commissioners appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, one may find it difficult to ascertain the aim for setting up an executive cabinet that may end up serving their boss under the principle of "Divide and Rule" shenanigan.
People of the state may need to sit back and watch what may become of the administrative relationships between the majority of the cabinet members as they may continue to conflict with their mandates.
Take for example, where there exists Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, and Commissioner for Science, Information Communications and Technology at the state level. Also, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs may have to resort to looking at one another's faces if their relevance matters to them.
Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Commissioner for Internal Integration and Special Duties, and Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol may also have to take the battle for their relevance, personally if they would want to have their names written in the Book of Life, in as much as serving Osun State is concerned.
The over 60-year-old Deputy Governor who was appointed as the Commissioner for Sports and Special Needs may also have to deal with or pocket the Commissioner for Youths, and Commissioner for Internal Integration and Special Duties if he would want to live up to his expectation in the administration.
All well said and heard, it is worrisome that the Governor was so nepotistic in the composition of his cabinet members that he pocketed all the meaningful Ministries in the state and handed them to their close allies who closely share blood or communal relation with him.
For instance, The Governor appointed himself as the Commissioner for Works, while the Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, and Commissioner for Federal Affairs were allocated to the wife of his late elder brother and people from his hometown and its territory.
The Governor dusted the air on the nepotistic question around his neck when he announced the appointment of a son of his late brother as the Chairman of the state Board for Local Government Service Commission, this coming a day after he appointed the wife of his late brother as Commissioner for Federal Matters.
From his Ede hometown alone, there are four commissioners, one board Chairman, Chief of Staff and the Governor itself. Among this appointees are son and wife of the Governor's late brother, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
Read also:
Names of all the Osun State Commissioners
Names of all the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Non-Statutory Boards in Osun State
Category: World-News
Tag: osun ademola adeleke osun commissioners osun board members
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 7/20/2023 1:18:18 PM