At last, Ambode unveils cabinet

After over three months of high level horse trading  and suspense, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, unveiled names of those to constitute his cabinet for the next four years.

BusinessDay had reported last week that the governor would name his cabinet this month.

Ambode has forwarded the list of would-be cabinet members to the House of Assembly for screening and approval. Of the list, six had served in the immediate past administration of Babatunde Fashola. They are Jide Idris, a two-time commissioner for health; Gbolahan Lawal, former commissioner for agriculture and cooperatives; Oluseye Oladejo, former special adviser on commerce and industry; Ganiyu Johnson, former special adviser on works and infrastructure; and Folarin Coker, former special adviser on Central Business District (CBD), and Babatunde Hunpe, former special adviser on rural development.

Others being brought in afresh into the cabinet which is to be inaugurated soon as the House of Assembly has cleared the candidates are Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG; Steve Ayorinde, former managing director of National Mirror; Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Ademola Abass, a professor of law.

The list also includes Akintola Benson, former special adviser, political and legislative powers bureau; Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Mohammed Akinkunmi, former member, House of Representatives; Babatunde Adejare, Femi Onanuga, Dayo Mobereola; managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA);  Ade Akinsanya, Wasiu Anifowoshe,  Lola Akande, former member of the state House of Assembly; Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mudirat Giwanson and Kehinde Bamigbetan, former chairman of Ejigbo local council development area.

Ganiyu Abiru, the clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly read the names on the floor of the House on Monday.

Ambode, it would be recalled, had promised in his inaugural address on May 29, to inject new blood on merit and professionalism into his administration.

The screening of the list is expected to commence immediately after the Sallah holidays, while cleared cabinet members may likely be sworn in with assigned portfolios on Monday, October 5, 2015.

JOSHUA BASSEY