High-level Politics Delays Obaseki’s Cabinet 9 months After Re-election

Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq (left); Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairman, Screening Committee, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor and a member of the committee, Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, during the inauguration of the committee to screen political appointees, at the Government House, in Benin City, on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021.

15-man Appointment Committee Reviews Petitions from 18 Local Councils

High-level horse-trading among politicians hoping to have upper hand in Governor Godwin Obaseki’s government are the cause of delay in setting up a cabinet nine months after the governor was re-elected in Edo State.
Feelers from the state suggest that the governor and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, who, in the wake of the election, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with more than 90 percent of party members, are bent on carrying along the majority of the divergent interests to avoid distraction.
Fallout of the cascading intrigues in spirited attempts to get Obaseki’s attention was an avalanche of petitions from all 18 local government areas in Edo State.

A statement made available to Prime Business Africa by Obaseki’s media team disclosed that the 15-man committee set up by Obaseki to screen political nominees to be appointed into his cabinet has commenced a review of all petitions received from across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Chairman of the committee, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, on Monday in Benin City, told journalists that the committee would be fair to all nominees.

He said the committee had been divided into three groups to cover the three senatorial districts of Edo to meet up the July 15 deadline given by the governor.
Agbonlahor said that five nominees wee expected from each local government from which one would be selected.

“We will look at Special Assistants from each ward; there are three nominees for this position; a female and two males.  For Senior Special Assistants, five nominations are expected from each LGA, including two females and three males, out of which four will be selected,” he added.

Governor Obaseki had on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, inaugurated the committee with a charge to screen the nominees and submit its report on or before July 15, 2021.

Some members of the Committee are Gen. (Rtd) Airende, Abass Yakubu, Bayo Ogedengbe, Abubakar Mustapha, Hon. Akhere Ugbesia, Prof. Okogbo Felix and Engr. M.I. Ijeghede.
Others are Osayamwanbor Agbons, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Dr. (Mrs.) Bob Osazee, Prof Maureen lIsoken Ebomoyi, Prof. Ahmed Uwubamwen, Hillary Otsu and Pastor Osagiede Joseph.