OSUN: Career Public Servants To The Rescue
AS was the case when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola first came on board as governor in 2010, the people of Osun State will still have to wait for sometime before he finally sends his list of cabinet to the state House of Assembly for screening and approval.
The long silence by the governor in naming full political appointees might not be unconnected with the state’s heavy debt burden, which has grounded government activities.
‘Mr. governor’, as Aregbesola chose to be called, in the first few days of assumption of power for his second term seems to have been confounded by the deep debt hole and the attendant embarrassment attracted to his administration. Therefore, the governor might have put the issue of naming of cabinet on hold, at least, for now, until he is able to find his feet and bail the state out of its current predicament.
The Guardian learnt it might take the governor longer times to clear the financial mess. The huge debt portfolio running into several billions of naira, which Aregbesola openly admitted recently, has not only reduced the governor’s public appearance, but also taken its toll on the state economy.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC), who did not want to be named, said, “making political appointment would not be a wise decision for now in view of the challenges we are facing and the wage problem, which the opposition and the media have been using to embarrass us.”
Since the governor’s re-election in August last year and his inauguration in November same year, he has remained mum on when his cabinet will be put in place, to assist in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes.
So far, Aregbesola is relying solely on career officers in the state public service and a few political appointees to run the affairs of the state, including the Chief of Staff (CoS), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon and others in the bureau.
Aside from this, the governor has also retained some heads of parastatals and commissions including, the Civil Service Commission, Osun State Waste Management Board and Local Government Service Commission, where a popular politician and Ikire-born businessman, Elder Peter Babalola, popularly known as ‘Peter Action’ is chairman and oversees the affairs of the 30 councils and the area office in Modakeke-Ife.
The Guardian learnt that Aregbesola is ‘unofficially’ making use of his former cabinet members. Most of them are at his beck and call and are always available whenever occasion demands and when he has any special assignment for them. The presence of these governor’s men and women might not be unconnected with speculation that the governor might be considering re-appointing some of them whenever he is ready to form his cabinet.
The on-going indefinite trade dispute declared by the state workers on May 25 over non-payment of salaries and pensions for about six months might also have informed decision to put consideration to selection of cabinet on hold as part of cost-saving measures.
The governor said, “in the first dispensation, it took us sometime before we could form cabinet and fill appointment into boards and parastatals, this time around, our people will have to tarry longer before we will be able to do this.”
And with the reality on ground, The Guardian learnt that the issue of political appointment is not on top priority of the governor agenda. The state chairman of APC, Aregbesola’s party, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, also once told party members to gird their loins and be prepared for long ‘fasting’ period due to the dearth of fund to run the party secretariat.
Famoodun, who was briefing party supporters on why Ogbeni Aregbesola came out plain about the true financial situation, said the party has been unable to pay salaries of workers in the Secretariat at Ogo Oluwa area, on Gbongan-Osogbo Road.
He added that the cash strap has also affected the state government and activities of the party in no small way.
Given the current scenario , it is expected that Aregbesola might have learnt some lesson from his first term experience where most of his cabinet members were picked from outside Osun state.
The issue, which was initially discussed in hush tones by home-based members of the party, who were disenchanted that they had been sidelined after the long struggle and sacrifice was later brought to the governor’s notice.
Sources within government and party circles told The Guardian that the governor is taking his time to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated in his cabinet formation.
In his first term, Aregbesola’s administration was overloaded with a long list of political appointments. The exact figure of political office holders during that period is still a matter of conjecture. But this development might have placed serious pressure on the state finances and effective management of resources.
Sources say the governor is worried that the state’s debt burden has crippled implementation of capital projects. And even when he eventually decides to do so, the number of aides expected to make the list might not be as big as what was witnessed during the first term, a crowded bureacracy and put so much financial stress on capacity of the state.
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1 Comments
Firstly the governor in the last 4 years as never worked with anybody in the true sense of it and he will not work with any career civil servant..all he does is dish out orders because he believes he his the epitome of knowledge; ask those who sorround him and they will all tell you he does not listen to advise but only his voice…..I pity those who will serve under his administration bc they will be finished politically, ask his SSG Adeoti.
Secondly, the mess osun state as found herself today is solely the fault of Aregbesola, he might duck and dive with variety of half truths but the major reason why osun is in a quagmire today is bc of his financial recklessness and foresight. He his quick to point to the statement of the DMO that osun is not overburdened with debt but he doesnt tell his gullible listners what year DMO made the statement, how much was the states debt at that time & how much it is now. His commissioner for finance also has to shoulder some of the blame although in fairness to the guy, the governor hardly listens to him.
Aregbesola does not know or he is yet unaware that his legacy is now being written and it’s makes a grim one. His new cabinet will be no different from the yes men he paraded in his previous administration. The few ones we thought would be bold to raise a voice of reason have had their conscience seared.
We will review and take appropriate action.