Ogun gov-elect: Scheming in Abiodun’s camp as godfathers fight for their loyalists

Estimated reading time: 10 minute(s)

…As Abiodun set to increase Commissioners from 18 to 20

Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

Serious political calculations are ongoing in the camp of the governor-elect  Prince Dapo Abiodun over juicy positions. 

Abiodun contested with the ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun state and won.

It would be recalled that political warlords joined forces to scuttle the succession plan of the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, alas the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the political gladiators who spread across party lines in the state and beyond include; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, The national Chairman of the APC, Com. Adams Oshiomole, National leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, The Former governor and Chieftain of the APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Former governor Gbenga Daniel, Former speaker of the 6th House of Assembly in the state, Hon Tunji Egbetokun.

Others include; Ogun East Senator Buruji Kashamu, former Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon Afolabi Afuape, Deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Kunle Oluomo, governorship aspirant Hon Temitope Kuyebi and a host of others.

In return for their contributions to the victory of the governor-elect PLATFORM TIMES observed that many of them do not just want an appointment but a juicy one.

PLATFORM TIMES also observed that many of the politicians joined hands with the governor-elect not just to fight the incumbent for different degrees of offenses but to also return to government after eight years of being politically jobless.

Sources inside the governor-elect’s fold told our reporter that some of them had even begun to go metabolical with the intention of securing appointment either by crook or by crocket.

The source further disclosed that the gladiators have submitted names of nominees which its total has exceeded the total number of commissioners required in the state.

Although, the source also said that the number of commissioners which will constitute the cabinet of the governor-elect will be increased from the usual 18 to 20 as each of them will be drawn from each local government of the state.

It was further stated that the Vice President has submitted a fifteen man lists, Oshiomole submitted eight names, Tinubu submitted five names while Chief Osoba submitted five names as well.

While some of them have started positioning themselves, some others are grandstanding.

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In the plans, according to another source, the duo of the Vice President and Tinubu have told the governor-elect that they wanted the most juicy of the appointments.

Although, the content of the lists were not made known, but our source hinted that the trio of former House of Representatives members, Hon Allen Taylor, wife of a commissioner during the second republic Mrs. Iyabo Ogunpola and a close alley  to Osoba who is a former member of the House of Representatives between 2011- 2015  topped Osoba’s list.

Although, another source told PLATFORM TIMES that the said alley to Chief Osoba might be considered for the position of the Director-General for Lands in the state.

Senator Tejuosho might also be considered for the post of a Special Adviser to the President in compensation for his gesture of stepping down to pave way for the incumbent governor to go to the Senate.

Prior to the election, Senator Tejuosho had openly vowed to step down only if,  the incumbent governor is willing to return to the red chamber after he (Amosun) had served in the same capacity between 2003 and 2007.

Also at the ground level of the jostling, a media aide to the governor-elect, Emmanuel Ojo is said to have found favour in the eye of the powers that be, to be appointed as Special Adviser on social media but the development was gathered to have doused his hope as he is said to be eyeing a bigger portfolio.