• Critics flay Governor Akinwumi Ambode For Switching Aptitude
Governor Akinwumi Ambode thinks Kehinde Bamigbetan is a brilliant spokesperson, but pundits claim that he knows as much about the new media as a bus conductor knows of brain surgery. In their estimation, something is intrinsically wrong with Bamigbetan’s appointment the Lagos governor’s new Commissioner of Information.
The debate on Bamigbetan appointment resonates at the backdrop of greater contention about Ambode’s redeployment of former Commissioner of Information, Steve Ayorinde as the Commissioner of Tourism; critics of his administration claim that, Bamigbetan commissioner should not have been used to replace Ayorinde.
It is a peculiar happenstance therefore, that the Lagos State governor would appoint Bamigbetan as his Commissioner for Information. Critics of the governor’s decision identify Bamigbetan as a very temperamental person who lacks basic requirements for his recent designation.
Besides his alleged temper, Bamigbetan reportedly lacks basic knowledge of new media, they claim. According to them, in an era of digital media revolution, the Lagos Ministry of Information deserves to be led by a man abreast with modern technological and new media advancements. It’s not ‘sitting’ on Facebook all day attacking supposed ‘critics’.
They also argued that Bamigbetan was just an ordinary sub editor with The Guardian, from where he progressed via politicking to become Ejigbo Local government chairman.
But while pundits attack Ambode over Bamigbetan’s appointment claiming he is unsuitable for the post, loyalists to the governor earnestly defend his honour, claiming every appointment that he made, Bamigbetan’s in particular, was made in the best interest of the state.
Hence the argument continually drifts from worry about Bamigbetan’s perceived incompetence to his perceived proficiency at managing his new role.
But is Bamigbetan actually fit for the job? Is his past role as subeditor and council chairman enough experience for him to assume his current position? The rigorous art and task of governance ultimately dwarfs whatever skills he might possess as a subeditor at Guardian newspaper, according to pundits.
Governor Ambode, they argued, should have appointed a more competent and suitable hand for the job, someone in the mould of the immediate past occupant of the office, Steve Ayorinde, a former Editor with The Punch newspaper, or someone infinitely better and more experienced than he is.
Is Kehinde Bamigbetan, Lagos State Commissioner of Information, a square peg in a round hole? Does he possess the necessary competence and administrative maturity required for his new brief? Has Governor Ambode committed an unpardonable gaffe employing a him for the tasking job of a state commissioner for information?
Notwithstanding the hullabaloo generated in the wake of his appointment as the state’s commissioner for information, The Capital wishes Bamigbetan a wonderful tenure in his new office.
