Real Reason Behind Makinde Sacking, Swapping Of Commissioners Emerges

OYO State commissioner Prof. Raphael Afonja was sacked on Monday days after he recovered from COVID-19. However, little or nothing was known as to what led to the dismissal of the professor.

But as the cloud of dust raised by the ex commissioner sacking began to settle, real reason behind his dismissal has come to the fore.

The commissioner, it was gathered, was sacked after a rapprochement between Governor Seyi Makinde and a politician from Ogbomoso, whose interest Afonja represented in the government, materialised.

According to The Nation, The politician relationship with Makinde became frosty after a coalition across parties spurred  the emergence of Makinde as the state governor in 2019.

In what appeared to be quid quo pro, Makinde gave appointments to deserving individuals in the coalition as a reward for working for the actualisation of his governorship aspiration.

But Afonja was not the preferred candidate of the Ogbomoso-born politician. He allowed his appointment since they belong to the same power bloc.

Also Read: I Will Reduce Infrastructural Deficit In Oyo, Says Makinde

After Afonja’s appointment, it was learnt the  shaky relationship between him and his perceived sponsor further nosedived.

He became loyal to Makinde, and his relationship with leaders in the bloc went sour.

But following reconciliation of the politician with Makinde, he demanded that Afonja be removed as commissioner.

The governor, it was learnt, wanted to sack Afonja while he was in isolation for COVID-19 treatment, but people prevail on as him this might be misinterpreted. .

Afonja was sacked on Monday, hours after resuming work, having recovered from Coronavirus infection.

The Nation learnt ex-Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Funmilayo Orisadeyi was swapped with his Special Duties counterpart, Bayo Lawal, because the governor expected better performance from Orisadeyi.

Lawal is one of the most trusted in Makinde’s government. He is a lawyer of about three decades’ practice and a man with rich political experience.

With the minor cabinet reshuffle, there  are feelers that the governor is beginning to stamp his authority on his administration and already, albeit gradually, doing the ground work for his second term bid.

The House of Assembly has confirmed Dr. Abdullateef Oyeleke as commissioner for Environment and National Resources.

He replaces the late Kehinde Ayoola.