… Due process coming too late- PDP
Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday swore-in his 39 member Executive Council comprising commissioners and special advisers, about fifteen months to the end of his second term in office.
This came as the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, described as “illegality ” all the projects and other activities carried out by the state government during the absence of the cabinet members.
Reacting to the constitution of the cabinet members on Tuesday on a television programme monitored by our correspondent in Osogbo, the Secretary to the PDP, Prince Bola Ajao, said, “The constitution of the cabinet is a due process coming too late. Will this cabinet confer legality on all the activities that have been carried out by the state government? The projects awarded and other activities without the executive council members are illegality.”
Meanwhile, Governor Aregbesola blamed paucity of fund for the delay in the inauguration of the cabinet members.
He said the team would accompany him in what he called “our home run.”
On the list of the commissioners are an Associate Professor of Economics, Olalekan Dauda Yinusa; a Doctor of Law, Ajibola Basiru, and a former Senator, Mudasiru Hussain.
The governor announced that he, as well as his deputy, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, were dropping their portfolios in Works and Infrastructure and Education, respectively, for the new entrants into the cabinet to allow for more effective policy coordination and supervision.
The governor at the inauguration held at the parking lot of the Bola Ige House in Osogbo, stated that the appointment was long overdue, but for dire constraint of funds.
Aregbesola stressed that Osun was not insulated from the financial challenges that the country had during the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in Nigeria.
He held that the state was receiving negative monthly allocations from the Federation Account during the period, saying what hit Nigeria during this period was the equivalent of economic natural disaster and Osun was not alone.
According to him, “I congratulate all the appointees for being considered worthy of service to the government and people of our dear state and for scaling the hurdle of screening.
“Many of you served in the first term; the rest are fresh hands. Of course, this is long overdue. It should have come up immediately after my inauguration on November 27, 2014. As you all know, we were hamstrung by dire constraint – principally financial.”
The new Commissioners include Ismail Jayeoba Alagbada for Commerce, Co-operatives, Industries and Empowerment; Miss Mobolaji Akande for Human Resources and Capacity Building ; Kolapo Alimi for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Mrs Mofolake Adetohun Adegboyega for Empowerment and Youths Development.
Others are Mr. Emmanuel Kunle Ige for Agriculture, Food Security and Youths Engagement; Dr. Surajudeen Bashir Ajibola for Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Mr. Bola Ilori for Regional Integration; Hon. Idiat Babalola for Federal Matters; Hon. Biyi Odunlade for Social Affairs/Special Needs; Wasiu Kolawole Omotunde-Young for Education; Mudasiru Hussain for Cabinet Matters; Oguntola Mudasir Toogun for Special Duties; Idowu Michael Korede for Environment and Sanitation.
Also inaugurated are Alh. Bola Oyebamiji for Finance; Mr Adelani Baderinwa for Information and Strategy; Mrs Latifat Giwa for Women Affairs; Engr Remi Omowaiye for Innovation and Technology; Dr. Rafiu Kusamotu for Health; Engr. Kazeem Aderemi Salami: Works and Transport; Dr. Dauda Yinusa for Economy, Planning and Budget; Dauda Adebiyi for Home Affairs; Akintunde Akinajo for Lands and Physical Planning.
The Special Advisers are Hon. Samuel Adebisi for Local Government and Chieftain Affairs; Barrister Mikail Adejare Adebisi for Special Projects, Office of the Governor; Barrister Gbenga Akano for Tax Matters.
Other SAs are Hon. Ipoola Binuyo for Legislative Matters; Gbenga Oyinlola for Health Matters; Mr. Ayinde Olateju for Science and Technology; Mr. Ismail Adetoyese for Wealth Creation; Simeon Popoola for Commerce; Olajide for Environment and Sanitation; Tunde Ajilore for Natural, Mineral Resources; Claudius Kolajo for Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement; Ademola for Public Production and Efficiency; Grace Oluyemi for Higher Education Bursary of Schools; Mrs Taiwo Oluga for Culture and Tourism; Olugebenga Awosode for Cooperative; and John Ibirogba for Women and Community Affairs.
