By Esv. Ismail Adewoyin PhD
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s apparent disdain towards party members in Oyo state regarding the lack of appointments to his administration may stem from a variety of reasons. As a prominent political figure, Tinubu likely has a strategic approach to governance and decision-making, which could explain his actions. Here are some potential reasons for his behaviour:
One possible reason for Tinubu’s limited appointments from Oyo state could be his emphasis on meritocracy over patronage. Perhaps he believes in appointing individuals based on their qualifications, competence, and commitment to service rather than merely catering to party loyalty. This approach ensures that the most capable individuals are chosen for roles, resulting in a more efficient and effective administration. After all, the general opinion is that all the appointed ministers from Oyo state since the beginning of APC administration in the last 9 years perform below average.
Ordinarily, President Tinubu should receive recommendations or nominations for appointments from Oyo state party members because the state is blessed with qualified candidates but who, in the present APC leadership in the state could put forward any party members’ names to Tinubu to fill positions? This, I strongly believe, is the challenge and frustration that has contributed to his apparent disdain towards party members from the region.
The internal wrangling within the party is playing a role in Tinubu’s stance towards Oyo state party members. Since the Buni-led Caretaker National EXCO installed an unpopular candidate as party’s flag bearer in the last gubernatorial election, the party has not known peace in the state. The open advice given by President Tinubu for him to pursue genuine reconciliation was not heeded. This notwithstanding, President Tinubu may be experiencing resistance, and power struggles, as a result of lack of cohesion within the party in Oyo State, making it difficult for him to make appointments without causing further discord. Tinubu’s frustration could be a reflection of these intricate party dynamics that impact his decision-making process.
President Tinubu is known for his stand on power balance and prioritizes diversity in representation in his political history and administration. In Oyo state, there is an apparent lack of diversity in the pool of candidates jostling not only for federal appointments but in the coming 2027 gubernatorial position. How can a section of the state would want to continue dominating state executive power to the exclusion of others? I have a strong conviction that President Tinubu would take a holistic approach to resolving the crisis in the APC party in the Oyo state by embracing the power rotation approach that will be implemented immediately.
Those condemning the president for lack of appointments from the state should consider the alignment of potential appointees from Oyo state with Tinubu’s policy objectives and vision for governance. Such candidates must not be a misfit or someone who can easily disconnect between Tinubu administration priorities and the candidates’ activities on the task before him. Given the state of the nation’s economy and government efforts to revamp it, Tinubu may be hesitant to make appointments that could hinder the implementation of his agenda. In such cases, his reluctance to appoint individuals from Oyo state could be driven by a desire to maintain policy consistency and effectiveness.
President Tinubu’s decision-making process may also be influenced by external pressures, such as public expectations, strategic considerations, or national interests. If there are overarching factors that compel Tinubu to focus on certain regions or sectors for appointments, Oyo state party members may find themselves overlooked due to these external demands. This could contribute to Tinubu’s perceived distance from party members in the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expression of disdain towards party members in Oyo state regarding appointments to his administration may be attributed to a combination of factors, including his commitment to meritocracy, limited recommendations, intra-party politics, the need for balance and diversity, policy alignment, and external pressures.
In conclusion, I would implore President Tinubu to make use of a Yoruba adage, which says ‘’when we scold a child with a right hand, we draw him back with a left one.’’ It is just a year in the administration, and there is ample time and opportunities for Mr. President to do the needful and put smiles into the faces of the party members in the state. The seemingly innuendos in the party can be resolved by calling the stakeholders together and constitute new EXCO members in the state and local government areas that will be all-inclusive.
Esv. Ismail Adewoyin PhD is a member of APC. He writes from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
