Why Keyamo was redeployed from Niger Delta Ministry

 

BY OUR EDITOR

Festus Keyamo, until Tuesday, Minister of State for Niger-Delta Affairs, has attributed his sudden redeployment to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to his versatility.

But an online news medium, The News Guru, reports that the exercise was to pacify the people of Ondo State who felt short-changed in the Niger Delta affair.

Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, becomes Minister of State Labour and Employment.

Reacting to the new development, Keyamo tweeted: “On the move again: Two portfolios in two months!

“Just been redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to work with my long-time big brother, H.E, Chris Ngige.”

“Thank you, Mr President for finding me versatile enough to move around. Always ready to serve in any capacity.”

Keyamo swapped positions with Minister of State, Labour Tayo Alasoadura, who moves to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

This was disclosed in a statement from the Director of Information at the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey.

Bassey said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the swap.

According to him: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate redeployment of two Ministers of State as follows.

“Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs is to move to Ministry of Labour and Employment as Minister of State.

“Senator Tayo Alasoadura is to move to Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as Minister of State. This redeployment takes effect from today, Tuesday Sept. 24, 2019.”

However, Keyamo’s allusion to his versatility as reason for redeployment may have been borne out of self assessment, but according to The News Guru (TNG), the portfolio swap became necessary in order to give Ondo State a befitting sense of belonging in Niger Delta matters, particularly the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), of which the state is a member.

According to TNG, there had been complaints and disquiet from Ondo State, over the state’s alleged poor representation in the region and the NDDC board.

“TNG discovered that the anger was particular fuelled after the ministerial announcements did not favour the state either as substantive or minister of state in the Niger Delta ministry.

“They argued that aside holding ‘befitting’ ministerial positions, Delta State also has the position of MD NDDC in the person of Bernard Okumagba.

“However, after wide consultation with relevant stakeholders and to avoid what could gradually lead to a crisis, the President decided to assuage the cry of the Ondo oil bearing communities by reposting their son, Tayo Alasoadura, from Labour to Niger Delta Ministry,” TNG reported.