As the hand over date gets closer in Lagos state, governor-elect,
Akniwunmi Ambode and the outgoing government of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Ambode
recently inaugurated a transition committee to ensure a seamless transfer of
power to his government. Hallmark news reports
The committee is expected to submit its report within
four weeks of its inauguration.
Ambode in the statement issued by one of his media aides,
Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, thanked the committee for their willingness to take up the
challenge to work with him to build a Lagos of our dream. The Transition
Committee which was headed by the Deputy-Governor elect, Dr (Mrs.) Idiat
Adebule, promised that they would work assiduously to make the job a success
within the time frame.
The other members of the Transition Committee are former
Commissioner for Housing under Governor Fashola, Mr. Dele Onabokun, former
Executive Director of Lagos state Assurance Commission (LASACO) and former
Managing Director of Ibile Holdings, a parastatal of Lagos state government,
under Fashola, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi Etti. Others are Prof Ademola Abass, Dr
Femi Onanuga, Mr. Akeem Sulaimon, Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa, a veteran Accountant;
Mr. Fola Olalekan Lasisi, Engr. Ade Akinsanya and Mrs. Rafiquat Onabamiro. Read more
There are indications that the transition committee members
might not end their work as Transition Committee members as some of them might
be part of the nominee for commissionership when Ambode forms his executive.
Although, some of those that would be part of the new regime cannot exactly be
mention, but sources in the party informed Hallmark that some of the members
who had participated in Fashola’s administration may be re-introduced into the
system again as they have close relationship with the governor-elect.
The inclusion of the former commissioner for Housing,
Onabokun, by Ambode in the Transition Committee is raising questions and
signals that he might bring back some of the Fashola aides who were sacked for
indiscipline and questionable character. It will be right to inform that
Onabokun was sacked in 2011 by Fashola for an act of anti-party activities on
the basis that he was behind the rebuilding of Labour Party in the state, while
serving under the then Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN). He is said to be a strong
actor in the SMS war against Tinubu and the then ACN. Onabokun was exposed by a
group loyal to Hon Lanre Odubote, a House of Representatives member for his
clandestine anti-party activities.
Also, it would be recalled that before 2011 governorship election,
there was SMS war that implicated incumbent Governor Fashola as a sponsor of
Labour Party and as a promoter of anti-party activities. Although, the governor
vehemently distanced himself from the SMS which read that Lagosians should vote
for Labour Party for House of Assembly to free Fashola and Lagos from Tinubu’s
corruption.
Onabokun understandably hails from Epe town, the same town
with the Governor-elect and a close friend of the Ambode, but his introduction
into the system through the Transition Committee may well mean his being
rehabilitated and brought into the government. However, analysts argued that
this might not go down well with incumbent governor Fashola. Although, a
reliable source in the party told Hallmark that the re-introduction of Onabokun
was as a result of his performance during electioneering as he was able to
deliver his ward and local government for the party during the governorship
election.
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