Governor Akeredolu faces turmoil in Ondo State as up to 10 commissioners look set to resign

GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is facing a major disruption soon after it emerged that no fewer than 10 commissioners and special advisers plan to resign their positions soon to stand in the 2019 general elections.

Apparently, the resignations will see candidates declare for a plethora of parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party. Most of the commissioners, who are expected to stand as APC candidates in February seeking to get elected unto the National Assembly, are said to be unhappy about the way they are treated as mere figureheads by the governor.

One local APC leader said the commissioners are making the move as a result of the overbearing influence of the special assistants and special advisers appointed by  Governor  Akeredolu in their individual ministries. He added that many commissioners have been rendered impotent as the governor sidelines them and relates to the technocrats instead of the politicians.

Commissioners eyeing either the House of Representatives seat or the senate are said to include woman affairs commissioner Wunmi  Edet  Olatunji, secretary to the state government  Ifedayo Abegunde, special adviser and former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly Victor Olabimtan, youth and sports commissioner Saka Yusuf, physical planning and urban development commissioner Sola  Amodeni and finance commissioner Wale Akinterinwa. Others are agriculture commissioner Gboyega Adefarati, information commissioner Yemi Olowolabi, commerce commissioner Timehin Adelegbe, culture and tourism commissioner Ismaila Olurimisi, housing commissioner Donald Ojogo, natural resources commissioner Rasheed Badmus and the governor's special adviser on transport, Tobi Ogunleye.

Some of the commissioners said they could not even travel to their constituencies because they do not have the means to. Apparently, they are ill-funded, not given the tools to carry out their assignments and have very little say in the affairs of the state.

Another party chieftain said: “Most of these people have been rendered useless and the governor seems not bothered by them. I am confirming to you that some of these men might leave soon.”

Segun Ajiboye, the governor's chief press secretary added: “Although some members of the cabinet may be nursing political ambitions, it will not disturb or distract them from working for the state. We are in the season of politics and some cabinet members have been showing interest in contesting one seat or the other.

"I can confirm to you that nobody is ready and willing to defect or jump ship to any other party. The governor and the commissioners work together as one big family to bring unprecedented development into the state and they are happy in carrying out their duties to the people of the state.”