Almost four months after swearing in of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, he is yet to form his cabinet. Shortly after he was sworn in, he reportedly told those who were lobbying for various political offices to relax as he was not in a hurry to form a new cabinet. It was also gathered that he promised to constitute the cabinet by August ending. Another source said the governor had said initially that his new cabinet would not be formed until September. Some reasons have been adduced for this seeming delay. The delay, according to information gathered, is to relieve the Pacesetter State of the present financial crisis it has found itself. Governor Ajimobi was quoted to have said he would take his time so that he would settle the backlog of unpaid salaries of workers in the state.
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The governor, who had variously complained of paucity of fund as a result of the cut in monthly allocations was said to have taken a cue from his counterpart in Osun State who did not form his cabinet for a long period.
An impeccable source told Saturday Vanguard that the governor is trying to toe the steps of President Muhammadu Buhari, who postponed forming his cabinet to September ending. The source confirmed that the governor had been mandated to form his cabinet latest this month.
Unlike in 2011, when recommendations from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not adhered to, the governor has been working together with the party on the formation of the cabinet.
According to the source, the governor has told the state APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, to prepare the list of nominees for both commissioners and special advisers. The party chairman was asked to pick nominees from local governments and wards so that the appointments will be spread to all parts of the state.
In 2011, the governor considered technocrats, who were not party men as members of his cabinet. Also, for all inclusive government, he picked members from other political parties in the state then. Some candidates of a former Governor Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains were picked as commissioners, special advisers and caretaker chairmen of local councils in 2011.
This was frowned at by APC members who had worked for the party. They felt marginalised. Following the complaints of party members and not too impressive results that greeted his ‘large heartedness’, the governor is expected to look inwards now.
This time around, the party, nominees of another former governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; late Abdul Azeez Arisekola and late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina will be well considered.
The influence of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi reflected in the results of the election as he stood firmly with the governor.
As for Otunba Alao-Akala, his refusal to align with other opponents during the governorship election of April 11 helped Ajimobi even though his victory is still being challenged by Senator Ladoja of the Accord at the tribunal.
The duo now walk about like Siamese twins. So, Alao-Akala is likely to be well favoured during the selection process.
The governor is said to be determined not to give room for division in the APC as he vowed not to follow the principle of SENACO (loyalists of Senator Abiola Ajimobi) and LAMCO (Supporters of Late Lam Adesina), which he used in his first tenure.
It was further gathered that this does not mean the governor will sideline people in these groups but he wants to avoid a situation that will threaten the party’s unity.
The source said the governor has changed completely compared to what he did in 2011. Many APC members have welcomed the new modality the governor said he would use and hope that external forces would not make the governor change his mind at the eleventh hour. All hands are on deck waiting for the formation of the new cabinet.
