Cabinet sacking: We saw it coming —Ex-Ekiti commissioners, PDP leaders

THE sudden dissolution of the Ekiti State Executive Council by the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, did not take the members of the executive by surprise, some of them have claimed.

The announcement, which literally jolted Ekiti as it came through Sunday morning intermittent radio announcements, took many by surprise and created avenues for speculations on a possible crack in the Ekiti cabinet.

Following the announcement of the sacking of his cabinet, which came to many as a surprise, there have been speculations in many quarters in the state, that it might be as a result of loss of confidence in the commissioners, while some in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) took to the social media to insinuate that there would be defections.

But reacting to the development, two of the commissioners said it was not a surprise to them because, according to them it had been foretold by Governor Fayose that he would dissolve the cabinet.

Also speaking on it, a leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and a former state secretary of the party, Gboyega Akinola Sodola said, “The governor announced during a meeting with party leaders that he would dissolve the state executive and so, it isn’t a surprise to many of us.”

Akinola Sadola said, “He (Governor Fayose) had told us that he would dissolve the cabinet during a recent meeting with PDP leaders in the state at the Government House in Ado Ekiti. So, to me and many others, it didn’t come as a surprise because he had said he would do that.

“We didn’t ask him before he made the announcement. And we didn’t ask him why he would dissolve his cabinet. So there’s nothing unusual about it.”

The erstwhile Commissioner for Information, Youth Sports and Culture, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, who confirmed their knowledge of the impending dissolution of the state executive council, said the governor “had announced it and we knew it would happen.”

Ogunsuyi said “It’s okay. I was one of the first five he appointed and everyone else joined us. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served. I’ve learnt so many things in the years I worked with him.

“It was a nice experience. I also learnt from those who were once commissioners and members of the federal legislature. No hard feelings at all. He appointed me without my influence; he just chose me to work with him and it was a wonderful experience.

Also reacting to the development, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, who was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said “I should move forward. I’ve been twice lucky as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The governor remains my leader and personal friend for life. Don’t forget I remain his personal counsel.”

Ajayi denied that there was a disagreement in the Exco as being speculated, saying “there was no disagreement among us. It was a united executive. The dissolution was a routine thing. We’ve spent about three years and we should be grateful.”

Reacting on the possible cause of the dissolution, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi described the action as “routine.”

Adelusi said: “It’s routine. No malice or grudge. It’s to rejig the cabinet and make it more efficient for service delivery to the people of the state, as the state gears-up for an election year. It is a normal thing for a government.”