Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday announced a cabinet reshuffle, relieving the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Olanike Adeyemo, of her appointment with immediate effect and appointing Prof Musibau Babatunde as her replacement.
The development was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju. According to the statement, the changes are part of efforts by the governor to strengthen governance and reposition his administration for improved service delivery.
Governor Makinde also approved the redeployment of Barrister Temilolu Ashamu from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The move, the statement noted, was aimed at aligning expertise with strategic priorities of the administration.
In addition to the changes at the cabinet level, the governor announced the elevation of his Senior Special Assistant on Public Works, Mr Ademola Aderinto, to the position of commissioner-designate. Aderinto is expected to be presented to the Oyo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional requirements.
The statement further disclosed that Governor Makinde appointed Mr Abiodun Adedoja as Special Adviser on Energy Security, a role expected to play a key part in addressing power-related challenges and supporting the state’s industrial and economic growth agenda.
Similarly, Mr Kolawole Elijah Akanmu was named Senior Special Assistant on Budget and Economic Planning, strengthening the team responsible for fiscal planning, budgeting, and economic strategy in the state.
While no official reason was given for the removal of Prof Adeyemo as SSG, political observers see the cabinet reshuffle as a routine governance decision often undertaken to reinvigorate administration performance and respond to emerging challenges.
The governor has, in the past, emphasised the need for efficiency, accountability, and competence in public office, particularly as his administration continues to focus on infrastructure development, economic expansion, education, and healthcare delivery.
The latest reshuffle comes amid ongoing discussions about governance priorities and political alignments in Oyo State ahead of future electoral cycles. It is expected that the changes will have implications for policy coordination and execution across key sectors of the state government.
As of the time of filing this report, the affected officials had yet to publicly react to the development.
