Governor Ambode, few weeks ago, demonstrated that distinct attribute of many great leaders . . . . unpredictability. He proved to be a mystery to his subjects, who had speculated on many things but were disappointed.
One of his recent surprises was the issue of cabinet reshuffle. Many newspapers, including Oriwu Sun, had last year speculated that a cabinet shake-up was imminent. However, Ambode, a master of his terrain, seems to always know what he wants, how to get it as well as when to keep mute and when to strike. He kept to his heart what he wanted to do about his aides, those to be cast away, those to be retained and the new ones to come on board the train of governance. Even members of his caucus (the kitchen cabinet) knew not the Governor’s plans nor the large Exco.
Unknown to many, as the 1st Town Hall Meeting of the year 2018 was going on inside De Blue Roof at Agidingbi on Thursday, January 11, 2018, LTV and other State electronic media were announcing the cabinet reshuffle, flashing the breaking news intermittently – “Three Commissioners sacked, five appointed by Governor Ambode” was the headline. When the Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, etc., left the Blue Roof for their various offices by 1:00pm, they met the bombshell announcement waiting for them. As in most government appointments and dismissals, they take immediate effect. The affected Commissioners/Special Advisers were expected to pack their personal belongings in their offices and move out within 24 hours.
The entire Alausa, the seat of power, erupted in awe and uncertainty. Many started asking the questions why the three were sacked – Mrs. Adebimpe Adesola (Housing), Mr. Femi Odubiyi (Science and Technology) and Mr. Biola Anifowoshe (Physical Planning). Others wondered why some in key Ministries were moved to other Ministries while some entirely new hands were engaged, including a United State based Information Technology expert, Hakeem Fahn, who was appointed to become Commissioner for Science and Technology Ministry. Barrister (Mrs.) Olayinka Oladunjoye – a former Commissioner for Education under Fashola government, said to be a friend of Ambode’s wife, was appointed Commissioner for Commerce and Industry to take over from Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye.
Mr. Ladi Lawanson was given the Transportation Ministry while Elegushi, who formerly manned that Ministry, was moved to the Central Business District Office. Another new hand is Segun Banjo for Economic, Planning and Budget as Commissioner while Hakeem Suleiman (a.k.a ORIS), who was heavily speculated to be among those to be appointed Commissioners in 2015 when Ambode was flagging off his administration, is now Special Adviser for Community and Communication. His fortunes are for reasons best known to Ambode then and now. Mr. Suleiman replaces Kehinde Bamgbetan, who has been elevated from his former portfolio of Special Adviser, Communities and Communications to become the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
Other serving Commissioners, who were moved to other Ministries include Rotimi Ogunleye from Commerce and Industries to Physical Planning and Urban Development. Mr. Steve Ayorinde, regarded as a member of the kitchen cabinet, was moved from Information and Strategy to Tourism, Arts and Culture. Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi Etti, formerly of the Wealth Creation, has been moved to Environment Ministry while Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile – Yusuf, formerly of Youth and Social Development, now moves to Wealth Creation. Agboola Dabiri, Central Business District, has now moved to Youth and Social Development as Commissioner. Dr. Samuel Adejare, who was in charge of Environment, is now in Water Front/Infrastructure Development, while Ade Akinsanya, who was in Water Front Ministry is now in Works and Infrastructure.
Special Advisers who were also affected by this reshuffle include Benjamin Olabinjo, who moved from Commerce and Industries to Civic Engagement while Kehinde Joseph of Civic Engagement moved to Housing. Mr. Deji Tinubu of Sports moved to Commerce and Industries and Arofiu Elegusi moved from Transport to Central Business District (CBD).
WHY ADEJARE WAS MOVED TO WATERFRONT
Sources in Alausa told Oriwu Sun that Adejare had been having a running battle with Ambode for some time. Those close to Adejare said the Governor felt that he had not been performing to Ambode’s expectations. He (Adejare) was even accused of working against the interest of the Governor outside of the seat of power. It was even alleged that because he was sponsored to Ambode’s cabinet by Bola Tinubu and Rauf Aregbesola, he became too confident, complacent and independent, thinking he was untouchable in the Exco.
However, Ambode, who did not want to ride on rough edges, decided to push Adejare out and to bring in a man he felt could make Lagos cleaner and better. Mr Babatunde Durosimi Etti was brought in from Wealth Creation to the strategic Ministry of Environment to replace Adejare.
WHY FEMI ODUBIYI WAS DROPPED?
Engr. Odubiyi has been having issues with the Governor since last year over some scams in the ministry of science and Technology but recently he really got on the Governor’s nerves when it was discovered that some of the projects approved by the Governor for specific jobs running into millions of Naira were diverted for another purpose by Engr. Odubiyi.
Rather than using the money approved by the Governor, which was deposited in the ministry’s account, he used the money with a lady in the ministry for travelling outside and collecting, most of the time, both for himself and the lady between five million and the ten million respectively as Escado as allowance.
Another issue with the commissioner was that the Governor gave approval for free waiver services for some areas in Lagos State. He also approved money for the project but it was alleged that Engr. Odubiyi rather than giving the job to a specific company, he diverted the job to another company who did a bad job.
Though, the original company was threatening to sue the state government but at the time of going to press, Oriwu Sun could not confirm the status of the contract.
Meanwhile, though we are not sure if the permanent secretary was involve about it, the Governor decided had to redeploy her to another ministry. It would be recalled that last year commissioner Odubiyi had an issue with the staff of the ministry where some of them were involved in scams and were facing the disciplinary committee of the government (PMB).
They were sacked and some have been refunding money.
WHY THE FORMER SPECIAL ADVISER TO AMBODE ON PUBLIC WORKS WAS REDEPLYED?
The former Special Adviser on Public works, Engr. Shodeinde has been redeployed earlier before the cabinet reshuffle because of having nasty issue with a staff, which angered both Ambode’s wife and the Governor.
Though, people said Engr. Shodeinde. is very close to the Governor and rather than sack him, he redeployed him. Ever since Engr. Shodeinde was redeployed, he has been floating around until recently when he was appointed to supervise the Governor’s one hundred and eighty (180) roads with another special adviser.
WHY HON. BIMPE NOSIMOT ADESOLA WAS DROPPED
Hon. Bimpe Nosimot Adesola, the Special Adviser to Governor Ambode and Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Tourism till last November, was one of the causalities in the recent cabinet reshuffle by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. While her admirers were looking up to her confirmation as a substantive Commissioner in that Tourism Ministry or any other Ministry, the Christmas gift to her was a redeployment to Ministry of Housing as Special Adviser while her New year gift was an outright sack from the government of the day.
This newspaper (Oriwu Sun) gathered that Nosimot had been having running battles with his colleagues in the government, especially other Commissioners and Civil Servants working with her. Oriwu Sun saw this set back coming when she was moved from Ministry of Tourism as Special Adviser/Acting Commissioner in Tourism Ministry to Housing Ministry as Special Adviser (only); hence, we started digging into reasons for this sudden transfer, especially as the redeployment came at the peak of the One Lagos Fiesta, which Nosimot was expected to be the driver.
Her downfall seems to have been highlighted when she moved the venue of the 2017 One Lagos Fiesta in her home constituency from the most popular and most convenient venue, Ikorodu Town Hall, to isolated Government College, along Ikorodu – Mile 12 highway. This move, which attracted vociferous condemnations from prominent Ikorodu indigenes and protests to Governor Ambode, ended up in favour of the people to the detriment of Nosimot. It led people to remember what happened the previous year (2016) when the same Special Adviser engaged the former Permanent Secretary in that Tourism Ministry, Mr. Ashimi, in a battle of words and wits during and after the One Lagos Fiesta.
The smart Governor was said to have waded into the rift and to ensure peace after settling the matter, moved Mr. Ashimi out of the Tourism Ministry to Health Service Commission. Observers, however, said it was not the end. The same Nosimot reportedly had issues with then Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (now Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism), during the 2017 One Lagos Fiesta as well as with the former Permanent Secretary for Information, Mr. Fola Adeyemi. In fact, sources at Alausa told Oriwu Sun that when this matter cropped up, Governor Ambode called Nosimot to scold and counsel her while also wondering why she fought with almost everyone. The Governor reportedly told her that he had also heard that she was not in good terms with the man, who brought her into this government, Asiwaju Bashorun Olorunfunmi, and advised her to tread cautiously.
Her colleagues in government had complained, according to the same Alausa sources, about her temperament, alleging that she easily got angry with people, including her colleague from Ikorodu, the Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning. She was said to have accused Ogunleye of cornering every project coming to Ikorodu division to Ikorodu town and leaving out other towns, Igbogbo, Ijede and Imota. A source told Oriwu Sun that Governor Ambode wanted to sack her immediately but tactfully waited until a full cabinet reshuffle was ripe; hence, she was dropped in this January 2018 shake up. That was not all.
Another matter that infuriated the Governor, according to our sources, was the construction of monuments across the State, in which Nosimot was said to have issues with some contractors. One of the contractors was said to have reported her to an Oba in the State, who brought the matter to the knowledge of Governor Ambode. Also, the Abiola statue that should have been commissioned but delayed was cited as one of the sins of Nosimot. It is not clear the reasons for the delay in commissioning it but Abiola family sources said they are now ready for its opening this year (2018), June 12, to commemorate the anniversary of the late politician.
Some Commissioners in Ambode’s cabinet told this newspaper that Nosimot often had issues with her colleagues; hence, at her recent birthday, during which she invited them, only one Commissioner showed up. It is speculated, therefore, that perhaps, some of her colleagues may have influenced her exit. Some political watchers see Nosimot’s fate as a tragedy, which may affect her political fortunes in the future since she was sacked at the time she had not yet achieved her ambition to be confirmed a full Commissioner. Her redeployment from an Acting Commissioner/Special Adviser in Tourism to Housing Ministry as Special Adviser is seen by some as a degradation of her political stature.
Oriwu Sun Publisher had phoned Nosimot when he got all these reports (before the sack) to counsel her to change her style but she refused to pick all his calls. The Publisher then met one of her uncles, the Odofin of Igbogbo at the Oba’s palace and told him the situation. He (Publisher) had also disclosed the dangerous signals to Nosimot’s close political associates before the hammer fell beyond redemption on January 10.
WHY AMBODE’S BOSOM FRIEND, WASIU ANIFOWOSHE, WAS DROPPED
The dropping of this Governor’s bosom friend from the Exco was one of the most surprising in the cabinet reshuffle. Whereas, some thought Ambode would move his friend to another Ministry if found wanting in any way, the Governor demonstrated that he would not spare anyone the hammer or the axe, especially if it had to do with the policy thrust of the State. He was not prepared to accept any lapses or laxity from his friends or his enemies.
It was not clear what went wrong but sources at Alausa told Oriwu Sun that something might have happened over state’s policy thrust on a land at Gbagada, which Ambode was not happy with his bosom friend and brother.
As the Head of that Ministry, Hon. Anifowoshe had to take blame for the lapses. With the dropping of Wasiu Anifowoshe as commissioner, he is now left with eight or nine commissioners brought in by the Governor himself.
WHY STEVE AYORINDE WAS MOVED FROM INFROMATION TO TOURISM
Mr. Ayorinde, a sound professional Journalist, was seen as a square peg in a square hole during his tenure as Commissioner for Information and Strategy. He was regarded as a member of the inner caucus of Ambode’s Exco (aka Kitchen Cabinet member). His movement to another Ministry may have puzzled some people but it was a strategic move by Ambode, who had seen great potentials in Ayorinde to drive his new dream to make fortunes for Lagos State through Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Seeing that oil and other economic products may experience some shortcomings in the nearest future, Ambode sees Tourism as the jackpot of tomorrow and wants Ayorinde to drive this Ministry and initiative. The Governor had to move both Ayorinde and his Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Information and Strategy, Fola Adeyemi, both of whom performed excellently, to the new Ministry – Tourism. Knowing his onions, Ambode had flown the kite unknowingly to Lagosians during the One Lagos Fiesta, when he became the Chairman of the Organising Team and made Ayorinde and Adeyemi the field drivers of the Fiesta, which recorded great success. Ambode is said to have great confidence in Ayorinde, who was his Media Campaign Manager in the 2015 gubernatorial elections.
The success of Civil/Public Service is the oath of secrecy on some sensitive matters of governance. It was the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, who issued the official letters of the reshuffle involving the sacked, the redeployed and the freshly engaged. Like the Governor, he kept this secret and did not disclose anything to his colleagues or friends in government; hence, the news came as a bombshell to many. No wonder they speak highly of the Official Secret Act in the Civil Service, which the freedom of Information Bill has not broken into.
WHY BAMGBETAN WAS APPOINTED THE INFORMATION/STRATEGY COMMISSIONER
Kehinde Bamgbetan was one of those strongly tipped for Commissionership in 2015 when Ambode’s government kicked off. But for reasons best known to the Governor, he was appointed Special Adviser to Ambode on Communities and Communications. This young and brilliant man became the best person for community newspapers and grassroots Journalism. He met periodically with Publishers of Community Papers in the State (over forty of them) to brief them on the programmes and activities of the State Government, which they would thereafter pass on to the local populace.
He convinced Ambode to support these local media in terms of advert and went on to set up a community Radio, which airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, projecting good governance of the State Government. The locals, including Traditional Rulers, Baales, Chiefs and their institutions came to love this man. It is obvious that his performance in this portfolio pleased Ambode, who did not hesitate to upgrade him to become Commissioner for Information/Strategy, where he would replicate his achievements in Communities and Communication to a broader spectrum.
People believe that if Bamgbetan could use community media so well to project Ambode, then, he would do wonders when he controls all media including social media as Information Commissioner.
WHY ROTIMI OGUNLEYE WAS REDEPLOYED TO PHYSICAL PLANNING MINISTRY
Rotimi Ogunleye, a Journalist and a Lawyer by training, was in charge of Commerce and Industries before he was appointed as Commissioner for Physical Planning Ministry. The Governor must have found him a good material; hence, his redeployment to another very important Ministry, Physical Planning, which also generates great income for the State.
Inside sources in Alausa cautions that since the previous holder of that office had issues on policy thrust with the government, Ogunleye must be extra cautious in handling affairs of that Ministry. He is the only Ikorodu man in the new Exco; thus, we wish him well in office.
WHY NEW PERSON WAS APPOINTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
Mr. Elegushi, who served as Special Adviser in this Ministry, must have displeased Ambode on two grounds – his inability to fit into new technologies, operations and policies concerning this critical area, especially issues concerning E-ticketing, and other modernization in global transport systems, which the Governor felt he could not quite handle to drive the numerous BRT buses to be injected into the system.
Again, it is alleged that Elegushi’s public statement on VIO’s last year was an embarrassment to Governor Ambode, which caused him to rescind a decision. It pained Ambode a great deal, sources said. The Governor waited for an appropriate time to move Elegushi rather than act on the spur of the moment of anger.
WHY DR. JIDE IDRIS WAS RETAINED IN HEALTH MINISTRY
This great man has spent over twenty (20) years in the top echelon of the Civil Service as Permanent Secretary and later, Commissioner. Sources said that Ambode had considered dropping him in this cabinet shakeup but decided to allow him serve up the first term of this administration because of his honesty, loyalty and dedication to this administration. It is not certain if he would be retained in the next administration of Ambode if re-elected.
This newspaper will keep an eye on the ball (these officers) and will feed our readers on their activities and performance. We pray that they would not be like some officers from Ikorodu and other divisions, who took care of their pockets, their families and personal interest only, leaving out the mases they were supposed to serve. They must endeavour to satisfy public interest to a greater extent than their selfish interests.