Akeredolu’s dream of a re- set agenda
T Othe surprise of many, Akeredolu made the first set of appointment less than seven days after he was sworn in for second term on February 24, 2021, returning Chief Olugbenga Ale, as his Chief of Staff, while a broadcast journalist and former Special Assistant on New Media, Olabode Olatunde, was elevated as Chief Press Secretary.
The governor had iterated that his second term was not for holiday but to consolidate on his first term achievements. Barely 48 hours after the first appointments were made, precisely on March 3, 2021, Olatunde announced the appointment of 42 other aides including the Chief of Protocol, Mr. Bola Alabi, another consummate journalist.
Some had thought that the commissioners list would not be released until around August or September, but the governor proved otherwise when the names of Donald Ojogo, Wale Akinterinwa, Charles Titiloye, who were commissioners in his first tenure; and Engr. Aminu Raimi, a Special Adviser on Works, Lands and Infrastructure in his first term, were sent to the state Assembly for screening.
All that happened amid scramble by members of the Ondo chapter of All Progressives Congress ( APC) for appointment, especially former members of the last cabinet. That was despite the N10 million parting gift meant to appease those who may not come back as alleged.
The likes of Ojogo, Akinterinwa, Titiloye and Raimi were fortunate to be re- appointed and eventually given offices as commissioners for Information and Orientation; Attorney General and Justice; Finance and Works, Lands and Infrastructure respectively by the Assembly.
There were initial sayings that Akeredolu might drop Ojogo due to his ( Ojogo) closeness to the former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who contested the governorship election on another platform against his boss. The information commissioner was however able to prove his worth.
He first served as Commissioner for Lands, where he proved his capacity to warrant being reappointed to take over the Information Ministry, where he in did repackage the media team of the governor.
He was commended for using the power of the media and his closes to major newsrooms across the country to assist in repositioning the administration.
Titiloye, is also said to be rewarded for his years of unwavering commitment. He was first appointed towards the close of the first term, representing the Akure folk in the cabinet, while Akinterinwa and Raimi were rewarded for loyalty.
While swearing in the new commissioners, the governor stressed the need to raise the bar of service to match people’s expectations of good governance. He also appealed to relatives and friends of appointees not to put unnecessary pressure on them.
The governor claimed his administration, which recorded excellence and landmark achievements in its first term, is committed to sustaining the bar and even raising it. “We are determined to do more in the second term,” he said. According to him, “No ministry or agency is inferior to the other. Al agencies are equally important in the state of polity. “The other ministries and agencies of the state are equally important. The choice of four ministries as agencies of government requiring immediate attention should be clear to the discerning.”
Leaving at least other 14 ministries open for contest, Ese- Odo, Ile- Oluji/ Okeigbo, Akure South and Owo councils respectively appear to have been settled while Akure North, Ondo West, Ondo East, Idanre, Ifedore, Akoko North West, Akoko North East, Akoko South East, Akoko South West, Ose, Irele, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Odigbo are yet to get a slot.
The office of Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) was one that most generated unusual tension amongst the people of Ondo Central Senatorial District, who believe the slot is theirs by right.
Few days to the July 2020 APC governorship primary, a former federal lawmaker, Ifedayo Abegunde, who hails from Akure South ( Central District), resigned his appointment as SSG to support another aspirant from the North, Dr. Segun Abraham.
Surprisingly, Abraham, alongside other APC governorship aspirants, discarded their ambitions and supporters to work for Akeredolu’s second term. The position of Abegunde was given to another Akure indigene, Tayo Oluwatuyi; while another Akure indigene, Idowu Otetubi, was appointed as commissioner for Natural Resources.
Due to perceived poor performance of the ruling party in Akure North, Akure South and Ifedore councils, they decided to write for their son Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP in the October 10 governorship election.
It was expected that since PDP only had victory in those three councils out of 18, Akeredolu would either pick the new SSG from Ondo East or Ondo West, which gave APC victory. Rather, the slot went to Idanre Council, where the acting state chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, hails from.
Some analysts had projected the former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, who hails from Ondo West, for the job due to her consistency, experience and loyalty and closeness to the state APC scribe, Adetimehin. But the governor pulled a joker when he announced Princess Oladunni Odu, as the first female SSG of the state.
Odu, who was appointed alongside four other special advisers, is a legal practitioner and immediate past chairperson of the State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB) before her appointment.
She had served in many capacities at both the state and Federal levels. She was Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission ( PCC) and at different times, former commissioner for Women Affairs and Education respectively along side Governor Akeredolu, who was then Attorney General during military era.
The development however left the Akure people in Akure South, Akure North, Idanre and Ifedore councils feeling marginalised, while the Ondo West and Ondo East people were aggrieved that the governor ceded their chance to Ondo South senatorial district.
But an APC chieftain said the appointment of SSG from the South senatorial district is a game plan ahead of the governorship election in 2024, which by all indications may be zoned to the area.
According to him, “It would not be out of place if the new SSG should join the 2024 race due to her political antecedents, lineage, wealth of experience and age long campaign for 35 per cent Affirmative Action, which should give her an edge, especially among female voters.”
Despite the behnd- thescene calculations, the scheming, the ruling party described the new SSG’S appointment “as appropriate reward for unalloyed loyalty and sacrifice,” declaring that her position as SSG would add more finesse and gains to the second term administration of the incumbent governor.
The state Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Alex Kalejaye said: “Princess Odu is among of the first party loyalists who invaded the party secretariat with thousands of vests and face caps, in support of Akeredolu’s re- election campaign last year. She equally attached to the items logistics for distribution to all local government areas.