*Says people can replace non-performing appointees
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said that a list of Commissioners would be forwarded to the State House of Assembly next week for consideration and confirmation.
The Governor disclosed this on Thursday evening when he visited the Ado Ekiti APC Ward 9 meeting venue at Ori Apata, Ado Ekiti. He said he would abide by the recommendations of the Committee on Political Appointment, adding that the committee did a wonderful job.
The Governor said the new arrangement where appointees were recommended by the grassroots people and the party , was designed to make the appointees answerable to the people.
Similarly, the Governor who addressed APC members at the meeting said the people also have the right to write to request a replacement of a non performing appointee.
Governor Oyebanji, who was accompanied by Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode and Senior Special Assistant on Community Communication, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso, stressed the need to build the party from the ward level to the national level and make elected and appointed officials know that they are in governor to serve the people.
“I am saying today that in honour of the memory of the Late Chief George Akosile ( who served as chair of the Committee on Political Appointments), I will abide by the decision of the Committee. The list of commissioners will get to the Assembly next week.
“The first set of appointment is for the commissioners and those who are not selected now may have opportunities to be appointed as Special Advisers, Special Assistants or board members. Let us note that political positions cannot go round and that is the reason we are saying those you will select must be those who will give you regular feedback, attend your ward meetings and attract dividends of democracy to their wards.
“When I was canvassing for votes and I told party members that you will be the ones to choose your representatives, some thought it was a political statement, some people are not happy about the decision and I said I got to this position on the platform of the party, so the party should be supreme. By God’s grace, names of Nominees will be submitted to the House of Assembly for the Commissioners you selected. If anyone of them fail to perform to expectation, hold your leaders responsible because they were the ones who sent the names.
“We don’t want Commissioners that will neglect ward meetings or automatically make himself a leader and start to lord things over you. And you also have the right to ask that a non performing commissioner be replaced.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ado Ekiti Ward 9, Mrs Falilat Akorede, commended the Governor for coming to their level by attending their ward meetings. She described it as a demonstration of fatherly love the Governor has for the party and the people of the state.
Mrs Akorede assured the Governor that ward 9 would continue to support his administration, even as she lauded the government’s as remarkable achievements in the last eight months.
