Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and members of the coalition that worked for victory of Seyi Makinde are mounting pressure on the Governor-elect to share political appointments based on the agreed formula.
Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) coalesced with the PDP, adopting Makinde as their joint governorship candidate in the March election.
ADC is largely made up former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who broke away in the wake of an unresolved crisis in May last year. The group is known as the Unity Forum.
The Nation learnt authoritatively that members of the coalition have been mounting pressure on Makinde for top slots in the state cabinet, boards of parastatals and local government leadership.
After setting up a 10-member transition committee in April, it was learnt that some of the blocs in the coalition complained of marginalization.
They pointed out that it might be a sign of what to come when Makinde eventually forms his government.
The development might have informed the reason the Governor-elect set up a 91-member inauguration committee as a way of accommodating all interests.
The position of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), it was learnt, has been one of the most difficult choices for Makinde as big wigs across the blocs have been jostling for the plum slot.
But Makinde has favored a top PDP member who hails from Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The candidate has been a loyal member of the party for several years.
His choice will pitch Makinde against the leader of a bloc who said all his party wants is the position and a pocket of smaller appointments.
While pressure increases over cabinet slots, members of the three other parties are having a hectic time integrating into the PDP at the ward and local government levels as PDP members are not embracing them.
They believe that they are only coming to reap where they sowed only a little.
The PDP members, it was gathered, are insisting the reward for the coalition should never get to the local government level because it will be impossible to implement given the fact that the party is well rooted at local level which will make it impossible to cede reward to newcomers.
They believe that their reward should end at the state appointment level.
A PDP chieftain in Ibadan, who spoke to The Nation in confidence, said: “Members of the ADC and others who joined us for the governorship election are expecting too much. But they are wrong.
“PDP has remained a strong party in Oyo State. They cannot just come today and expect to have upper hand over us. That will not work.
“We worked very hard for the election, so they should allow us serve the people of Oyo State in line with our party manifesto.
“Whatever Makinde wants to give them should be at the state level. They should stop thinking that they will get anything at the local government level. That will be self -deceit.”
While the pressure is sustained by political jobbers, Makinde is said to personally select members of other blocs for the appointments made so far.
But perceived as a divide-and-rule tactics, the ADC last week issued a statement announcing its erstwhile governorship candidate Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin as its leader with whom all negotiations must be made.
The idea, The Nation learnt, was aimed at enjoying a collective bargaining.
The sharing formula agreed for the coalition to take place was 30 per cent for the ADC, 15 percent for ZLP, five per cent for SDP and 50 per cent for the PDP.
As the inauguration day gets closer, members of the PDP and other blocs in the coalition are confused about the shape of the incoming administration.
Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) coalesced with the PDP, adopting Makinde as their joint governorship candidate in the March election.
ADC is largely made up former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who broke away in the wake of an unresolved crisis in May last year. The group is known as the Unity Forum.
The Nation learnt authoritatively that members of the coalition have been mounting pressure on Makinde for top slots in the state cabinet, boards of parastatals and local government leadership.
After setting up a 10-member transition committee in April, it was learnt that some of the blocs in the coalition complained of marginalization.
The development might have informed the reason the Governor-elect set up a 91-member inauguration committee as a way of accommodating all interests.
The position of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), it was learnt, has been one of the most difficult choices for Makinde as big wigs across the blocs have been jostling for the plum slot.
But Makinde has favored a top PDP member who hails from Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The candidate has been a loyal member of the party for several years.
His choice will pitch Makinde against the leader of a bloc who said all his party wants is the position and a pocket of smaller appointments.
While pressure increases over cabinet slots, members of the three other parties are having a hectic time integrating into the PDP at the ward and local government levels as PDP members are not embracing them.
They believe that they are only coming to reap where they sowed only a little.
The PDP members, it was gathered, are insisting the reward for the coalition should never get to the local government level because it will be impossible to implement given the fact that the party is well rooted at local level which will make it impossible to cede reward to newcomers.
They believe that their reward should end at the state appointment level.
A PDP chieftain in Ibadan, who spoke to The Nation in confidence, said: “Members of the ADC and others who joined us for the governorship election are expecting too much. But they are wrong.
“PDP has remained a strong party in Oyo State. They cannot just come today and expect to have upper hand over us. That will not work.
“We worked very hard for the election, so they should allow us serve the people of Oyo State in line with our party manifesto.
“Whatever Makinde wants to give them should be at the state level. They should stop thinking that they will get anything at the local government level. That will be self -deceit.”
While the pressure is sustained by political jobbers, Makinde is said to personally select members of other blocs for the appointments made so far.
But perceived as a divide-and-rule tactics, the ADC last week issued a statement announcing its erstwhile governorship candidate Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin as its leader with whom all negotiations must be made.
The idea, The Nation learnt, was aimed at enjoying a collective bargaining.
The sharing formula agreed for the coalition to take place was 30 per cent for the ADC, 15 percent for ZLP, five per cent for SDP and 50 per cent for the PDP.
As the inauguration day gets closer, members of the PDP and other blocs in the coalition are confused about the shape of the incoming administration.
PLEASE SHARE!!!
ReplyDeleteDangote Cement mega-dash promo begins with a huge slash down in prices and they deliver nationwide within two days.Buy cement for N1,3OO per bag and 5Okg Rice for N1O,OOO per bag.Contact the Marketing Manager (Shehu Abubakar)on O 8 1 3 3 5 4 9 O 5 5 for bookings and enquiries.