In a revealing reaction to the cabinet restructuring by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Oladoyin Odebowale, a distinguished classics lecturer lecturer at the University of Ibadan (UI) and a legal practitioner, expressed his opinions with a blend of indifference and critical insight.
In an interview with News Reporters, Odebowale said, “I am indifferent. He has the sole prerogative to hire and fire subject to the provisions of the Constitution. They serve at his pleasure,” Odebowale stated.
He acknowledged the president’s authority while hinting at his dissatisfaction with the changes.
However, his indifference did not extend to the broader implications of the cabinet shake-up.
Odebowale argued, “It is not enough for him to remove the Minister of Education and others. The whole cabinet ought to have been dissolved. Members of the Federal Executive Council are largely anonymous.”
He expressed belief that the issues within the government extend beyond individual appointments to a systemic failure.
Turning his focus to President Tinubu’s dual role as Minister of Petroleum, Odebowale did not hold back his criticism.
“The President has failed as the Minister of Petroleum. When is he removing himself as the Minister? Running that ministry has been catastrophic since he took over,” he remarked.
His comments reflect a growing concern over the state of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which he described as “a cesspit of corruption,” labelling the situation a “disaster.”
Odebowale’s remarks highlight the urgent need for accountability and effective governance, particularly in the crucial sector of petroleum, as the nation looks for leadership that can address these pressing issues.
