OYOINSIGHT.COM can exclusively report that all is not well in the government of ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, as his most senior aides are embroiled in what insiders called a supremacy contest.
Makinde, their principal, is however, not helping matters, as he’s maintaining what can best be described as siddon look, his normal behaviour to cause disaffection so that they won’t be able to unite against him.
Adenike Adeyemo, Iseyin-born professor of veterinary public health and preventive medicine at the University of Ibadan, who is secretary to the state government, SSG, is not taking it cool with Ogbomoso-born Segun Ogunwuyi, chief of staff, CoS, to the governor, revealed a document exclusively obtained by OYOINSIGHT.COM.
While the 54-year old former UI deputy vice-chancellor first served in government in 2020 when she chaired the decontamination and containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Taskforce, 50-year Ogunwuyi was first elected state assembly member for Ogbomoso South in 2011 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while he was elected house of representatives’ member for Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire federal constituency under the Labour Party, LP, led by late former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in 2015. His bid to return in 2019 was thwarted. He was subsequently made executive assistant on investment and later director general of Oyo State Investment and Public, Private Partnership Agency, OYSIPPPA. In 2021, following the removal of Bisi Ilaka, he was appointed CoS.
This newspaper understands that trouble had started when Adeyemo, trying to stamp her feet, wrote a memo dated 22 November, 2024 and received same day by the office of the CoS, saying that all appointees whose letters were signed by the latter’s office should return such to her office for what those in the know called regularization.
Paragraph 3 of the SSG’s memo reads among others “…and to ensure credibility in the governance processes of the oyo state Government, I have the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Ablodun Makinde FNSE GssRs D.sc., to reiterate that the issuance of appointment letters to political appointees and other Government issued communications is the sole purview of the secretary to the state Government,” continuing in paragraph 4 that “consequently, all political appointees who have erroneously been issued letters of appointment outside of the office of the secretary to the state government should obtain a re-issue through the office of the SA-SSG after tendering the earlier letters as evidence.”
Obviously irked by the development, the CoS disclaimed the SSG memo on the appointees’ WhatsApp platform four days after, on November 25, 2024.
In Ogunwuyi’s 118-word disclaimer, he wrote “Dear colleagues,
Your attention is humbly drawn to the attached circular letter, which originated from the SSG, insinuating that all appointment letters issued to date were erroneously issued and should be nullified for re-issue through the office of the SA-SSG.
“Kindly note that the circular letter was never issued with the express instruction of HE GSM and is therefore to be ignored, as it amounts to usurping the constitutional powers vested on the Executive Governor. The intent of the letter has no basis in law, and the laws/statutes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do not empower any appointee to overrule the lawful directives of His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
“Thanks for your compliance to the above,” he had written.
While none of the members of the platform deemed it fit to make any comment, a sign that they don’t want to be the grass to suffer where two elephants fight, Makinde, sources confirmed, had heard about the issue but had not deemed it fit to invite the duo for possible questioning or mediation.
While OYOINSIGHT.COM learnt that many appointees had gone to drop the initial letter issued to them by the CoS and reissued another one signed by the SSG, the appointment of board members of Pacesetter Mineral Development Company announced December 3rd, 2024 was signed by the CoS, a development that is causing confusion within government circle.
Before Sharafadeen Alli, now senator representing Oyo South, nobody held the position. Not wanting to lose Alli, then governor Rashidi Ladoja, now Otun Olubadan, had moved him into the newly created CoS portfolio to pave the way for Dele Adigun as SSG around 2003-2007.
Since then, Saka Balogun, an historian (under late Alao-Akala), Adeolu Akande, a professor of comparative politics (under late Abiola Ajimobi), Gbade Ojo, a professor of politics (under late Ajimobi) and Ladilu of Oyo, Bisi Ilaka (under Makinde) had tasted the position.
Right from time, CoS has always been powerful, considering the administrative nature of the office of the SSG.
Of all the SSGs Oyo has had, only Layiwola Olakojo (under late Alao-Akala) was powerful. Akin Olajide (under late Ajimobi), Lekan Alli (under Ajimobi), Olubamiwo Adeosun (under Makinde) were not as powerful as their counterpart CoS.
