Barring any last minutes’ change of plan, the chances of any known politician to become secretary to the state government, SSG, have dimmed.
OYO INSIGHT learnt that Governor Seyi Makinde prefers a woman to hold the position. This, according to the governor’s close associate, is to prevent ‘political distraction’.
Though the name of the ‘lucky woman’ is yet-to-be known, sources disclosed that she may be announced this week.
This is coming few days after the governor listed three of the interested persons- Sen. Hosea Agboola Alleluyah, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli and Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande as chairman and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, am Action that has been described as an attempt to ‘bench’ the trio politically.
This newspaper recalls that Makinde had, few hours after his inauguration, appointed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in February 2019’s Oyo Central senatorial election, Chief Bisi Ilaka as Chief of Staff.
While Alli, a former SSG and Chief of Staff has the backing of his former boss, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, Alleluyah is banking on his closeness to the governor. It was learnt that former President Goodluck Jonathan is rooting for Mulikat.
It would be recalled that the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP and Social Democratic Party, SDP, all came together to form an alliance against Oloye Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the May 9, 2019 governorship election.
Makinde, OYO INSIGHT understands, fears that the trio are ‘political heavyweights’ and may distract him with their ambition. “It was as if Makinde confided in former governor Abiola Ajimobi to appoint Alleluyah’s wife as Head of Service. That knocked him out of the race to become the SSG.”
Another top source who didn’t want name in print said that Ladoja’s absence from Makinde’s inauguration cannot be disconnected from the emerging ‘crisis’. “It was clear that Makinde was not going to use Alli. He would have announced his SSG alongside Ilaka but he delayed it when Ladoja didn’t attend his inauguration. He thought he would be able to explain things to the former governor. Before the inauguration, he deliberately avoided Ladoja. He had promised to see the old man before the election but he avoided him. He came on the eve of his inauguration. Ladoja managed to see him as he was already sleeping. Two days after, on 30th May, 2019, he visited again. Initially, he wanted Ladoja to Chair the Governor’s Advisory Council but he rejected it.”
OYO INSIGHT further learnt that Makinde is in talks with Ladoja’s oldest son, Muyideen Ladoja, who turned 50 recently, on the need to serve his government. Muyi, unconfirmed sources say, was said to have told those who spoke to him that he wouldn’t do anything against the wish of his father.
“What really happened was that after Makinde was unable to convince Ladoja, he got Muyi through one his younger brothers. It was an attempt to break the camp of Ladoja. The old man threatened to disown any of this children who take appointment under the present administration.”
Meanwhile, OYO INSIGHT has gathered that the woman, who is said to be close to 50, would be announced this week as SSG.
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