OYO State commissioner Prof. Raphael Afonja was sacked following the reconciliation of Governor Seyi Makinde and a politician from Ogbomoso, whose interest Afonja represented in the government, FreshPage learnt.
The politician fell out with Makinde after a coalition across parties worked for the governor’s 2019 victory.
While rewarding those in the coalition, Makinde gave appointments to deserving individuals.
But Afonja was not the preferred candidate of the Ogbomoso-born politician. He allowed his appointment since they belong to the same power bloc.
After Afonja’s appointment, it was learnt the tenuous relationship between him and his perceived sponsor went sour.
He became loyal to Makinde, and his relationship with leaders in the bloc degenerated.
But the politician, having reconciled with Makinde, demanded that Afonja be replaced.
The governor, it was learnt, wanted to sack Afonja while he was in isolation for COVID-19 treatment, but people begged him that this might be misconstrued.
Afonja was sacked on Monday, hours after resuming work, having recovered from Coronavirus infection.
