Indications emerged yesterday in Abeokuta that Bimbola Ashiru may retain his portfolio as commissioner for commerce and industry in Ogun State in the soon-to-be constituted cabinet of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
According to privileged information obtained by BusinessDay among investors, Ashiru’s four years of as commissioner brought in unparalleled development into the state’s investment portfolio and security of investment that sprang up development in both real sector and micro, small and medium-scale enterprises.
Some high-ranking members of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Ogun State, who preferred anonymity while speaking with BusinessDay on the next investment frontiers of the state, said the second coming of Ashiru could bring more than three folds growth.
Although, some people across the state and even beyond, having seen the list of nominees for commissioners by Governor Ibikunle Amosun and confirmation of Kemi Adeosun, former commissioner for finance, as minister of finance in-waiting, tipped Ashiru, a seasoned banker for finance, his feats in the area of industrialisation and investment could change the calculations.
Like it was said at the commissioning of multi-billion naira flexible power cables factory built by Coleman Wires and Cables in Arepo on Thursday, being the 70th manufacturing industries commissioned in the last four years in the state, a couple of investors had reached out to the governor to re-appoint Ashiru as commissioner for commerce and industry.
The arguments were based on the fact that Bimbo Ashiru, though, an expert in finance and investment banking, has established mutually-beneficial platforms and enabling environment for investment and economy to thrive and the status quo should remain in the state ministry of commerce and industry if sustainable records were to be achieved in the next four years.
A senior member of MAN and chief of executive officer of a thriving conglomerate in Agbara Industrial Estate, said, “A return of Ashiru in Ogun state ministry of commerce and industry, will surely give us compact and sustainable economic growth and development. The feats of Ashiru alone attracted huge investment to the state.
“For instance, some of the needed infrastructure, like roads, rail and other palliatives needed for entire economic development, especially in the industrial hubs, I think the second coming of Ashiru, will provide platforms for joint finance, between government and private sector, that is PPP, just like we did on a particular road in Agbara, courtesy of Ashiru’s initiative.”
Both the nomination of Adewale Oshinowo, another senior banker from Sterling Bank Plc for the state’s commissionership before the Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday, gave the governor a robust choice to retain Bimbo Ashiru in the ministry of commerce and industry and use Adewale Oshinowo as commissioner for finance going by his banking experience.
Adewale Oshinowo, senior manager of Sterling Bank Plc, formerly served the director-general of Ogun State Bureau of Lands and Survey in the first tenure of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and was, for the second term, nominated among the five additional nominees submitted before the State House of Assembly on Thursday, bringing the nominees to 23 commissioners.
The nomination of five nominees for commissioners, including Adewale Oshinowo, Modupe Mujota, Adedayo Adeneye, Adenrele Adesina and Babajide Odubanjo, another finance expert and current chairman, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, expanded the number of state’s ministries from 20 to 23 and widened Governor Amosun’s choice of commissioner of finance between Adewale Oshinowo and Babajide Odubanjo.
RAZAQ AYINLA
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