BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

Barring last minute changes, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State will dissolve the current cabinet this week. Precisely, by next Monday, the four year tenure of Lagos State cabinet will terminate with valedictory session instead of the usual Executive council meeting at the executive chamber of the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.

No fewer than 125 curriculum vitae, CVs, and representations had already been forwarded to Governor Fashola and prominent Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN leaders in the state for possible appointments into the state Executive Council.

Usually impeccable party sources told Vanguard, yesterday, that instead of the original arrangement in which the governor would have contributed a mere 20 percent of cabinet members, while party big wigs would have taken the lion share of 80 per cent, a new 50: 50 formula will now be used.

Fashola is said to be favourably disposed to picking technocrats as against other high powered interests who will pick party loyalists as compensation for their unalloyed support in the past four years as well as contribution to Fashola’s re-election.

GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola has continued to receive encomiums for his remarkable performance in the last four years in office even as he emerged from no known political pedigree other than being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

Most of his achievements came through his cabinet members made up of mostly technocrats and egg heads in their various professions. Some of them, however, fell by the way side during the first tenure, apparently due to political interplays from the powers that be.

Often, Fashola, in his quest for excellence, had attempted to effect changes in his cabinet but was stopped in his tracks by his so-called mentors who were not satisfied with reasons adduced for the changes. The governor, though usually perturbed in such instances went ahead like a wounded lion to pursue his 10-point agenda.

Fashola, who is currently in Canada undertaking a pre-shipment inspection of a 27 kilometre light metro rail line, christened Blue Line that will run from Okokomaiko in the west of Lagos to CMS in Central Lagos, knacks for young, brilliant and vibrant men and women to implement his programmes and policies, hence, his decision to bring more of such into the next cabinet.

It was learnt that the sharing formula seems to be the reason for the delay in coming up with the final list of commissioners and aides.

Therefore, ahead of the May 29, 20011 swearing_in ceremony for the newly elected governors, strong indications emerged, weekend, that Governor Fashola may announce the dissolution of the current cabinet in the state to pave way for the newly selected executive members soon to be unravelled.

Precisely, next week Monday, May 23, 20011 the four year tenure of Lagos State cabinet will terminate with valedictory session instead of the usual Executive council meeting at executive chamber of the state House, Alausa, Ikeja..

It will be recalled that about 125 curriculum vitae, CVs, and representations had already been forwarded to Governor Fashola and prominent Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the state for possible appointments into the state executive council

As soon as Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC declared Fashola winner of the April gubernatorial poll in Lagos State many political interests began to stream into the State House, Marina, official residence of the governor and Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence of ACN national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lobby for one position or another.

According to sources, some of the commissioners who may not come back have started preparing their handing over notes while others have also started packing their personal belongings from their offices.

The new executive members are expected to be sworn-in early in June to allow for the continuation of transformation of the state.

Fashola, who is currently abroad on official engagement is expected to meet other ACN leaders who are also abroad apparently, to work out the outlook of the next cabinet.

Vanguard learnt that Fashola is attuned to picking technocrats as against other interests of high powered level who are favourable to picking party loyalists as compensation for their unalloyed supports in the last four years tenure as well as for the realization of re-election of the incumbent governor.

Most of the commissioners who had taken turn to address the media in the ongoing ministerial briefings to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Fashola in office had done so reeling out achievements of their ministries in apparent move to impress the governor and other interest groups about their performance in the last four years.

There are 21 commissioners and 15 special advisers in the state executive council excluding the governor, his deputy, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, and Secretary to the State Government.

It was learnt that some of the Special Advisers who have served meritoriously have been penciled down to make the commissioners list but the ministries into which they are likely to be fixed are still being worked out.

Some of the likely returnees include the Special Adviser for Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson, whose ministry has been functioning for the past four years without a commissioner. He may  graduate into commissioner grade in spite of his advanced age.

Mr. Kayode Opeifa, SA to the Governor on Transportation with special emphasis on Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA whose commissioner, Professor Bamidele Badejo, has also performed excellently well.

Others are the commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, who profusely apologized to the media for his uncouth utterances to newsmen during his address at the recent ministerial briefing; his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Prince Rotimi Oyekan, Commissioner for Finance; Mr. Jide Sawoolu, Commissioner for Establishment, a surveyor turned banker, are among the sure best commissioners to stage a come_back.

Some of the commissioners offices still vacant and to be filled by new entrants are the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, where the current Permanent Secretary, Dr, Yakub Basorun is warming up to step in after the mysterious and sudden sacking of the former commissioner, Enoch Ajiboso; Ministry of Education which was overseen by the current deputy governor, Princess Adebisi Sosan and the Ministry of Information and Strategy, hitherto manned by the erudite lawyer, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, who is now member of the House of Representatives-elect in Ekiti State.

Also, the Ministry of Housing has been without a commissioner for some time, following the sack of Mr. Dele Onabokun who was accused of anti party activities few days to the commencement of April general elections.

Quitting the cabinet

Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, who has not been consistent from day one in government of Fashola but survived due to the influence of the power that be, had signified his intention to Vanguard to quit the cabinet come May 29,2011. He apparently hopes to take up higher assignment either nationally or internationally.

There are others who have also been marked for elimination.
Unconfirmed reports had it that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government Affairs, Rural Development, Youths and Sports are among the ministries that will witness major changes.

It was not clear whether Dr. Muiz  Banire, Commissioner for  the Environment was willing to come back after taking up pressing assignment with ACN as its National Legal officer.

Mr. Tunji Bello, a lawyer, and former Commissioner for the Environment during Tinubu’s administration, who headed the campaign team for the re_election of Fashola is also likely to come back to head the Ministry of Information and Strategy after the exit of Bamidele.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Central Business Districts, CBD, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole, is also expected to be in the cabinet, though, Vanguard learnt, there were plans to upgrade the office into a ministry.

It will be recalled that Danmole stepped down for Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for the Lagos Central Senatorial District election contest in the April General polls. So, as a form of compensation the party is likely to retain Danmole.