The governor of Oyo State, Makinde, has delegated authority to his deputy, Bayo Lawal, to serve in that capacity until he returns from a month-long vacation.
Lawyer-turned-politician who just replaced Raufu Olaniyan’s place will serve as acting governor from today until the governor’s one-month vacation concludes on September 2, 2022.
The Justice Ministry, the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSTROMA, and the Oyo State Housing Corporation, where Lawal previously served as chairman, have all been assigned to him, unlike Olaniyan.
This was not the case in the more than three years Olaniyan served with Makinde.
It was learnt that, Makinde had informed the House of Assembly via a letter to intimate them of the development.
A source in the Assembly confirmed the development, adding however that the letter was delivered to the office of the Speaker and Clerk around 4:30PM.
The source said “The governor is going on vacation from August 11 to 2nd September.
“The Deputy Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal will be Acting Governor during the period.”
When contacted for information, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Kazeem Olayanju said he could not confirm the development.
However, a source who confirmed the letter in the House said the letter will be presented during the next plenary.
The source could neither confirm if the House would call an emergency plenary to present the letter or wait till next week when plenary is expected to hold.
However, it was gathered that with the notification of the lawmakers through the letter, the Governor has fulfilled the requirements to make Lawal serve as Acting Governor pending his return.
Since the current political dispensation, it is the first time a governor of the state will be going on a vacation and transmitting power to the deputy to serve as Acting Governor.