Azeez, Lolade, Samson, PAs, SAs, Media Aides Affected
There may be an ueasy calm in the administration of ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, over the relegation of special assistants in his office, OYOINSIGHT.COM can report.
The governor had in a move that appeared to be unconventional and to spite Raufu Olaniyan, his former deputy, approved the appointment of eight senior special assistants for the office of the new man, Bayo Lawal, yesterday.
The appointed individuals, according to Makinde’s chief press secretary, Taiwo Adisa, and published by OYOINSIGHT.COM, are to assist the deputy governor in the day to day running of his office.
The appointments have, however, been described as a cryptic message of disapproval to scores of special assistants in the governor’s office, who have by the latest appointment, been placed a step lower than the aides of the number two man.
Sources within the government told OYOINSIGHT.COM in the early hours of Thursday that the appointments could have been an oversight on the part of the governor, deputy governor or anyone down the line, but that it has set a bad precedent as the organogram of public offices in the state has been badly affected.
“For instance, what used to obtain is that two or three experienced individuals would be appointed as SSA in the deputy governor’s office while others will be given the special assistant roles.
“But with this mass appointments of SSAs for the office of the deputy governor, there will be bad blood in the system, especially from the special assistants of the governor, who have been working with the governor since 2019.”
Another source maintained that apart from the difference in the salary scale of SSAs, who earn around N350,000 and and special assistants, who earn around N253,000, there is a bit more recognition for the former.
The source wondered how individuals like special assistant on special duties, Lolade Ajibola; personal assistant to the governor, Akeem Azeez; special assistant on inter-community, Josiah Olufemi; special assistant on Islamic, Abdulrasheed Imam; Victor Olojede, Kazeem Bolarinwa, whom the governor had been using as special assistants, would feel with the appointments in the deputy governor’s office.
“The governor has quite a number of special assistants, some of them tested professionals in different fields and they have been doing well. The appointments of mostly younger guys, some of them far lower in professional callings, may create dissatisfaction among the appointees, as those left on the special assistant levels may feel they have done so much to be derided in this manner.
“I strongly suspect that the mistake was not deliberate though. But how to address it will be a major issue,” said a top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who begged for anonymity.
