Abiola Ajimobi’s daughter tops list of aides sacked by president

Barely 24 hours after reports of the disengagement of 35 aides in the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo allegedly on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, their names and portfolios have come to the fore.

Prominent on the list is Ajibola Ajayi, the daughter of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. She was appointed Special Assistant, Legal to the President (VP Office) in August 2019.

Ajayi was an ex-SA to the President on the Bureau of Public Enterprises BPE (VP Office) from October 2015 to May 2019.

Also affected are Lanre Osinbona, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on ICT; Imeh Okon, SSA on Infrastructure; Jide Awolowo, SA, Oil, and Gas; Gambo Manzo, SA Political; and Edobor Iyamu, SSA, Niger Delta.

However, the spokesman to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, denied the news, saying: “The list circulating in the media on the so-called sacked presidential aides is not genuine and ought to be ignored.”

The list as allegedly released by a reliable source in the Villa equally includes Lilian Idiaghe (SA, Research, Legal and Compliance); Arukino Umukoro (SA, Niger Delta); Bala Liman Mohammed (SSA Economy); Dolapo Bright (SSA, Agro Allied Value Chain) and Toyosi Onaolapo (SA, Community Engagement).

Others are Bisi Ogungbemi (SA, Political Matters); Edirin Akemu (SSA, Industry, Trade and Investment); Akin Soetan (STA, Economic Matters); Aondaver Kuttuh (Technical Assistant, Rule of Law); Ife Adebayo (SA, Innovation); Yussuf Ali (SA, Power Regulations); Tola Asekun (SSA, National Boundary Commission); Morakinyo Beckley (SA, Off-grid Power); Yosola Akinbi (SSA, NEC); Tochi Nwachukwu (SA, Power Privatisation); Bode Gbore (SSA, Political) and Abdulrahman Baffa Yola (SA, Political).

The rest were Kolade Sofola (SA, Infrastructure); Ebi Awosika (STA, Community Engagement); Muyiwa Abiodun (SSA, Power); Forri Samson Banu (SA, Entrepreneurship); Bege Bala (SA, BPE); Feyishayo Aina (SA, Community Engagement); Halima Bawa (SA, Community Engagement); Nkechi Chukwueke (SA, Community Engagement) and Ilsa Essien (SA, Media).