The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, said on Monday that the appointment of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN), as well as the Secretary to the State Government, Habibat Adubiaro, were in fulfillment of his promise to have competent people in the cabinet.
Oyebanji, who said Adubiaro and Apata were appointed based on their rich credentials and experiences, restated his promise to get very competent Ekiti indigenes wherever they were to man strategic positions in his administration.
The governor, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti during the swearing-in of the two officials, debunked insinuations in some quarters that he was under pressure by the immediate past governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, his wife, Bisi Fayemi and former deputy governor to appoint their cronies into his cabinet.
He said, “While I recognise the right of people to freedom of expression, I also have the right to respond to the fake news being circulated on social media”.
Oyebanji, who said the CVs of the two appointees, showed clearly that they got the jobs on merit, said, “My promise to Ekiti people is that I am going to look for the best anywhere to help me run Ekiti and that is what we are going to do. We are not going to be distracted as long as we are doing what is right in the interest of our people.
“But I need to put it on record that neither the former governor nor his wife, nor the former deputy governor has put any pressure on me to appoint anybody. But if I have to go back to his former cabinet and appoint relevant people that can assist me, I will go and pick them.”
Oyebanji charged the SSG and AG to develop a robust policy engagement platform where policy stakeholders could learn, interact, engage, review and evaluate government plans and programme from time to time to achieve the overall objectives of his administration.
Responding on behalf of the two officials, Apata assured the governor that they would live a life of dedication, commitment, integrity, loyalty in discharging their responsibilities and as well key into the administration’s vision and mission and also add value to the progress of the state.
The new SSG, Adubiaro, who holds a doctorate degree in Chemistry, is former vice chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Federal University, Oye Ekiti Chapter; while Apata is a former Solicitor-General of the
Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.
