Barely three days after assuming the mantle of leadership in Ondo state, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu appears to be in a dilemma over his choices for some sensitive positions in the new government.
The choice posts are that of Secretary to the State Government, chief of staff as well as chief press secretary. The fresh intrigues trailing possible choices for the positions were said to have stopped the governor from announcing them at the inauguration and gala night on Friday last week.
About three weeks to his inauguration last week Friday, there were unconfirmed reports that Governor Akeredolu had settled for a former member of the House of Representatives from Akure, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde(Abena) for the position of SSG.
The decision to settle for Abena was said to have been brokered by the Mines and Steel Development minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi after the choice of the current deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi as running mate to Akeredolu.
But the governor had a few days to his swearing in, reportedly attempted to dump the Abuja deal brokered by Fayemi and instead, gunned for an old university days friend, Barrister Ade Oluwajana from Ifedore but he was prevailed upon by forces loyal to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to still settle for Abena.
It was unclear if he had agreed as at the time of going to press.
For the position of chief of staff, there are two contenders from within the traditional ACN camp in the APC. They are Hon Solagbade Amodeni, former chairman of Akoko south east local government area who later became a commissioner under former governor, Olusegun Mimiko as well as the current deputy state chairman of the APC, Hon Ade Adetimehin who held a sizable part of the party for the governor during the travails that trailed the governorship primary last year. Governor Akeredolu was said to have promised both men same position of chief of staff.
A source close to the governor disclosed that Akeredolu wanted a man with some intellectual capacity. Both Amodeni and Adetimehin lack university degrees as they are said to be technical college graduates. That perhaps informed why Governor Akeredolu shortlisted a former banker, Timehin Adelegbe and a retired permanent secretary, Gbenga Ale as possible appointees for the position of chief of staff.
But to placate both Amodeni and Adetimehin, Governor Akeredolu was said to have promised to make the former commissioner return to the state cabinet as commissioner for works while Adetimehin takes the position of the state chairman of APC as the incumbent, Isaacs Kekemeke has perfected plans to relinquish the position any moment from now.
It was however unclear if both men have agreed to the overtures from the governor. The governor had reportedly summoned a ‘small meeting’ for Owo for last night to discuss the issues surrounding the appointments