Discordant Tunes Over Delay In Constituting SanwoOlu's Cabinet

By Wale Abydeen// As the main challenger in the last general elections, the Lagos state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP seems to have braced up for a virile opposition that could keep the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC on its toe.

The PDP throws the first jab at the newly inaugurated governor of Lagos state, Babajide SanwoOlu over what it termed as lack of coordination on the part of the governor noting that there is nothing to justify delay in constituting cabinet for the prompt taking off of the new government.

But trust the APC with its strong media presence. Gboyega Akosile, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos state Governor was blunt and concise in his swift response. Akosile described the PDP as a student that requires tutorial in governance. He added that the party needs to be patient.

According to him “ highly qualified and competent men and women will be appointed as commissioners by HE Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The governor’s press officer reminds the PDP that the Constitution is very clear about the issue of Cabinet. “There is nowhere in the Constitution where a time frame is stipulated for State Chief Executives on the composition of Cabinet so the PDP needs some tutorials on not only party politics but Government itself. If the party had done its due diligence by first consulting the Constitution, it would not have issued a statement demanding that the Governor hurriedly announces his cabinet members”.

“The PDP needs to also be reminded that the Governor had said it countless times during the electioneering that he would put in place a high quality cabinet composed of tested men and women who will join him to drive his vision of delivering a greater Lagos to all the citizens of the State”.

“The PDP should therefore busy itself with more important issues that bother on social and economic development of our people”.

Akosile’s statement which was made available to SECURITY MONITOR was in response to the statement earlier credited to Gani Taofeek, a lawyer and spokesman of the state PDP. The PDP has asked Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to explain to Lagosians the reason for the delay in inaugurating his cabinet.

Lagos PDP stated that governor SanwoOlu was uncoordinated, “hence the apparent total stagnancy in the governance of the state coupled with strongly rumoured cases of funds embezzlement, mismanagement and misappropriation.”

According to Gani, the “unwarranted delay” is confirmation of the party’s stance that Sanwo-Olu was ill-prepared and hurriedly brought on board as governor.

He said, “Lagosians are suffering the uncoordinated governance as observed in increased traffic jams, increased insecurity, abandoned and decaying infrastructure.

“Governance in the state has become guerrilla-styled and disillusioned. There is no excuse for this in a state as Lagos that is blessed with numerous credible intellectuals.”

“We thus have a very strong suspicion that the governor has deliberately delayed a cabinet in order to solely corner the finances in the state probably to recuperate the huge amounts spent on his election. This is a really dangerous omen for a special case state like our Lagos State.”

Gani accused the governor of adopting “aberration” in the state without a cabinet by acting as sole administrator, adding that the cabinet delay was unpardonable.

He stated, “The Lagos PDP consequently suggests to the state Assembly to summon the governor to appear before it to explain the reasons for such aberration whilst the state assembly should also start to monitor the finances of the state’s ministries and parastatals.”