Inside Details: Why Abiodun Is Under Pressure To Drop Powerful SSG, Talabi

The struggle for who becomes what in the next term of Governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun has become intense.

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that particularly targeted is the plum position of Secretary to the state government (SSG) currently occupied by the powerful government official, Tokunbo Talabi.

Talabi is the billionaire businessman prevailed upon by Abiodun to serve in his government.

The overlapping job functions of Talabi, – a member of the board of many high net-worth companies who oversees affairs at Superflux International Limited, a foremost security printing firm ( which he founded ) handling the Cheque books of a larger percentage of Nigerian Banks when the offer to serve in the administration of Governor Abiodun came, transformed him into a major power in Ogun state.

“He became the closest confidant of Governor Abiodun, an alter-ego of the governor of a sort in the running of the government” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

But the politicians don’t want him in the next administration insiders insist.

Although he is contending with a disputed narrow win in the March 11, 2023, Ogun gubernatorial election, Abiodun is expected to be sworn in for the next administration on May 29, 2023.

The information available revealed that Talabi brought to much business-orientated approach to governance and in his role as ‘alter-ego” was saddled with taking harsh decisions, particularly regarding cutting costs.

“This has inevitably put him at odds with major players, especially among the politicians who want a more pliable person for the position he occupies in the next administration” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Those who should know disclosed that the campaign to stop Talabi from being a part of the next administration of Abiodun is the handiwork of “professional politicians” with the view that the position should be occupied by one of their own – and not a technocrat in the mold of Talabi.

SocietyNow.NG, however, further gathered that the agenda may be DOA (dead on arrival) because of how central Talabi is to the performance of the administration of Abiodun so far.

“I don’t see Abiodun succumbing to such a demand because the value Talabi brings on board is far and above want many see. The state is being run like a business enterprise with a great focus on cost reduction and development projects across all zones and Talabi is at the very center of it all, devising and adapting the master plan as things progress” SocietyNw.Ng learned.

Though it is not sure how keen Talabi who was a part of high impacts national projects such as the Presidential weekly Business Forum, Clearing House System Automation Committee, Committee on National Cash Sorting Consortium Scheme and National Smart Card project is in being a part of another term of Abiodun’s government, information at hand point to the Governor holding on to him.