As Nigerians look forward to the portfolios President Bola Tinubu would allocate to the ministerial nominees, the Eselu of Iselu, Yewa North, Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi has told the President to put Dr Kunle Salako in any ministry, saying he could survive in any jungle.
The Oba also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun over the nomination of Salako as one of the ministerial nominees from Ogun State.
President Tinubu included Salako’s name in the second ministerial list he forwarded to the Senate.
Salako, a medical doctor, who was screened by the Senate on Saturday, would be the first person to be nominated as a Minister of the Federal Government from Ogun West since the return of democracy in 1999.
Media Talk Africa reports that the rotation of ministerial slots due to Ogun has been between Ogun Central and Ogun East since the last 24 years.
To the people of Yewa/Awori, a zone that is yet to produce the governor since the creation of Ogun State, Salako’s appointment came as a soothing balm to their years of marginalisation.
Reacting to Salako’s appointment, Oba Akinyemi commended Abiodun and the Senator representing Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola, for recommending him to President Tinubu.
Going down memory lane, the Oba recalled when the nominee was a Commissioner under the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel in Ogun.
According to him, Salako was moved from the Ministry of Health to that of Agriculture and later to the Ministry of Works and Housing, saying he was never found wanting in any of the ministries.
In a statement he made available to Media Talk Africa on Monday, Oba Akinyemi, said: “I will thank most sincerely, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, OFR, the Executive Governor of Ogun State for his support in making this a reality.
“I would like to thank our son in Yewa Land, Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) who has also been representing us well. Thank you all for making Dr. Kunle Salako a Minister-designate who will soon become a substantive Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
While appreciating President Tinubu, Eselu said the President would not regret his choice of Salako, who he noted “does not leave assignments for his subordinates alone to execute, but he will go personally to locations of assignments to get things done.”
“I am convinced that Dr Salako, who works like a civilian soldier, will perform wonders as a Minister.
“Put Dr. Kunle Salako in any Ministry, he will transform it beyond one’s imagination, no matter the present condition of the ministry.
“He is like a lion. He can survive any jungle. If Mr President puts him in very sensitive sectors like Health, Agriculture, Oil and Gas, etc, he will surpass Mr. President’s expectations. We look forward to a good portfolio for Dr. Kunle Salako,” he said.
