More than six months after he assumed office, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji is yet to constitute his cabinet. Correspondent RASAQ IBRAHIM captures the intrigues and political manoeuvres that are delaying the appointments within the Ekiti chapter of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC)
In his inaugural speech at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on October 2022, Governor Biodun Oyebanji stated clearly that he will assemble the best hands to work with him in his quest to move the state forward.
Since, then, all eyes have been on the governor to know who will make the list. To date, everyone is still waiting for him to constitute his cabinet. Given the enormous challenges confronting the state, the people had expected the governor to quickly form a strong cabinet that would drive the six-point developmental agenda contained in his manifesto.
Oyebanji has made a couple of appointments, including three commissioners, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and nine special advisers. But, people are expecting a full-fledged state executive council that will form his administration’s think tank.
The governor retained two commissioners that served under his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. They are Dr Oyebanji Filani (Health) and Mr Akin Oyebode (Finance). Fayemi’s kinsman, Dayo Apata (SAN), was also appointed as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
With the appointments made so far, there is no doubt Fayemi’s allies are the ones calling the shot in the Oyebanji-led administration. Appointment of commissioners into the cabinet is very critical to the success of any administration.
Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution states that governors must appoint commissioners and that it must be approved by the state House of Assembly. This is based on the premise that the task of governance is too enormous to be left to the governor and his deputy. But, the constitution does not give a timeline for the appointment of commissioners and other members of the cabinet.
Given this lacuna, which hurt his administration at the outset – because it took him almost six months to form his cabinet — President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to a bill that will mandate the President-elect and governors-elect to appoint ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking their oaths of office.
The delay in the formation of the cabinet and appointment into government agencies and parastatals by Governor Oyebanji has become a topical issue in Ekiti, not only among APC members but also the citizenry.
The development, however, is creating credibility challenges, not only for the governor but also for APC, as members and leaders who worked assiduously for Oyebanji’s victory are anxious to know what fate awaits them under his government.
Although the governor has revolutionized arteries of governance for the betterment of the people and the development of the state within the shortest time in office, political pundits believe that governance would have been more elevated for the overall interest of Ekiti people if there had been commissioners to coordinate policies in various ministries.
The pundits expected that the governor would have constituted a search team immediately after he was declared the winner of the June 18, 2022 governorship poll so that he would be ready with the list of his dream team the moment he is sworn in.
They said the absence of a full-fledged cabinet has stalled governance in critical sectors and has adversely affected his rich democratic credentials because he is now being accused of running a one-man show.
A political analyst, Dr Idowu Akinruntan urged Oyebanji to urgently constitute his cabinet in record time, to hit the ground running, deliver a dividend of democracy to the people and fast-track the development of the state.
He said that Ekiti people are waiting for service delivery from the Oyebanji-led administration and that the delay in constituting the cabinet may send a wrong signal to the people. An impeccable source told our reporter that Governor Oyebanji is meticulously weighing his options given the combination of highly influential political forces that helped him into office against all odds.
The source said the governor is being circumspect about stepping on the toes of his benefactors. The governor is said to be seeking a balance and an amicable power-sharing formula that would satisfy his former boss who singlehandedly made him the APC standard bearer, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo who brought him into politics and other interest groups.
The appointment of the Chief of Staff, which is one of the first set of appointments that he was expected to make has been stalled due to high-wire politics. It was gathered that about two names have been suggested to him by political associates to pick from. But, up till now, he is yet to decide on the matter because he is not comfortable with the two names.
The governor’s failure to constitute the State Executive Council (SEC) about six months after his inauguration is said to be generating bad blood among party chieftains and other leaders in the state. According to the APC chieftains, those who played significant roles in the party to retain Ekiti must be fully appreciated through appointment into the ministries, agencies and parastatals.
A top APC chieftain from the Ekiti North Senatorial District who doesn’t want his name in print lamented that the majority of those appointed so far are technocrats and not real-time politicians who worked for his enthronement.
But, in his response, the governor has tried to calm the nerves of APC leaders, saying he is aware of the concerns of party members over his appointments so far. He assured them that they would not be neglected.
He said: “I am not unmindful of the fact that there have been concerns on the configuration of these appointments. I will like to place on record that I am committed to my campaign promise that party leaders will play a very critical role in appointments to political offices at the appropriate time.”
On the claim that he is under pressure from Fayemi or his wife, Mrs Bisi Fayemi with the appointment of Dr Filani and Mr Oyebode who were part of the last administration, Oyebanji said their appointments were based on merit.
The governor stressed that his would-be cabinet would be appointed on merit. He also promised Ekiti people that members of his cabinet would be the best set of individuals that would assist him in fulfilling his electoral promises. His words: “While I recognise the right of people to freedom of expression, I also have the right to respond to the fake news being circulated on social media. If you look at the curriculum vitae (CV) of the two appointees, you will discover that they got this job clearly on merit.
“My promise to Ekiti people is that I am going to look for the best anywhere to help me run Ekiti and that is what we are going to do. We are not going to be distracted as long as we are doing what is right in the interest of our people. But, I need to put it on record that neither the former governor and his wife, nor the former deputy governor has put any pressure on me to appoint anybody. But if I have to go back to his former cabinet and appoint relevant people that can assist me, I will go and pick them.”
To douse the tension arising from the delay in the formation of his cabinet, the governor has constituted a panel under the chairmanship of Chief George Akosile to coordinate the process of political appointments in the state. Other members of the committee are former Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu; APC chairman, Paul Omotoso; Chief Bejide; Chief Olajide Awe; Mrs Ronke Okusanya; Mr Bayo Aina; and Mr Lekan Ijidale.
He said the committee has the mandate of the governor to consult with relevant stakeholders across the 16 local governments of the state to screen and recommend names of competent and suitable candidates for political appointments.
Some of the key requirements the panel will consider, aside from paper qualifications, include competence, proven track record, character, compassion and contribution to community development, among others.
While inaugurating the committee, Oyebanji urged its members to select competent hands that would make his cabinet. The governor said he needed people who are progressive-minded and ready to serve selflessly for the development and progress of the state.
He added that his dream to make Ekiti the envy of other states requires a formidable team that shares in his developmental vision.
APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe commended the governor for giving the party and people power to nominate people into his cabinet. He added that the move would help in building people’s confidence in the government.
Dipe added: “I think the issue has been addressed by the governor himself as regards the quality and the selection process. He had said when canvassing for votes that he would return power to the party because appointments will be determined by the party and the people. They would want them to be accountable to the people, not themselves.
“Regarding the quality of people he has in mind, he (governor) said they are those who are ready to serve, particularly those that are not motivated to do so because of material gains, but by what the people will benefit from their service. Such people will be ready to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the state; they are people who are like him, homebred, loved and chosen by the communities from where they come. They (committee) will look at the template of the governor and key into his vision and do the right thing in the interest of Ekiti people.”
A member of the committee and Special Adviser to the governor on politics, Chief Awe expressed optimism that the panel will do its job with utmost responsibility and present to the governor people of proven integrity, capacity and commitment towards achieving the six-point agenda of the Oyebanji-led administration.
Awe added: “The people of Ekiti should expect the best from the committee because the governor wants power to come from the people and he wants the full participation of members of the party to have a say and their way on who becomes their leader, particularly in government. That was why the governor has decided to set up the committee to look at the nooks and crannies of Ekiti State and find out the best for now who could galvanize development.
“These are the people that will drive our six-point agenda; who is going to work directly with the governor to achieve all his lofty ideas. In that wise, you don’t just pick people; you look at their records, and what they have contributed both within the party and the community they reside.
“We don’t want a situation I refer to as human and capital flight where a commissioner would not be residing in the state and with the people he or she is supposed to be serving; it is abnormal. So, we want a situation where people who will complement the governor will emerge as commissioners. That is the reason why the governor is putting together the committee.”
It was reliably gathered intense lobbying for appointments as commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, members of boards of parastatals and agencies is on at the moment, with politicians exploring all avenues to present themselves and get the required nod that would place them on the list of beneficiaries of political positions.
While some have been lobbying Fayemi, his wife, Otunba Adebayo who are expected to influence the exercise, others are also making contacts with religious leaders, traditional rulers and leaders of thought in the state, including Chief Afe Babalola to recommend them for an appointment.
An impeccable source within the APC told our correspondent that a former governor has been mounting pressure on the governor to allow him to come up with the list of those that would be considered for appointments, particularly commissioners.
As the search team begins the process of shopping for Oyebanji’s dream team, political analysts believe the governor should look beyond the APC for competent and credible Ekiti people, so that the citizenry can get the best from his administration.
They said Governor Oyebanji must be bold to engage stakeholders on the shape of the cabinet he has in mind and the direction he wants his government to take, and that he should not pander to the whims and caprices of his godfather in his onerous quest to advance the development of Ekiti and its people.
