Appointment as Oyetola’s CPS: My story, by Omipidan

Deputy Editor (Politics) of The Sun Newspapers, Ismail Omipidan, has revealed circumstances surrounding his appointment as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the then Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, saying that his appointment rekindled his hope in Nigeria that one could be appointed into positions without necessarily knowing anyone.

He made the revelations in his book, “Persona Non Grata.”

Hear him: “Following the decision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to appoint the Editor of The Nation, Mr Gbenga Omotoso as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, the newspaper was at crossroads on the choice of its next editor. The management began to screen its very competent senior editors to succeed him and Alhaji Yusuf Alli , the Managing Editor, Northern Operations of The Nation was one of those considered.
He got to know about it and told the MD/E-I-C of The Nation, Mr Victor Ifijeh that he was not interested in the position, citing family factor as the major reason for his action. The MD/E-I-C then asked Alli and others to look for an editor within 72 hours and Alli then said in
the light of the criteria, Mr Adeniyi Adesina best suited the position as he fits the bill to be the next millennium editor of The Nation.

“Once the management settled for Mr Adesina, the MD/E-I-C asked of a replacement for Adesina, who just took a job from Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at the time. Without consulting me, Alhaji Alli then suggested me as a replacement for Mr Adesina and he
undertook the challenge of convincing Adesina and setting up a meeting between the MD/E-I-C of The Nation and myself. Mr Adesina got to know of me being considered in the process of knowing who his successor would be. I understand Alhaji Alli gave reasons for nominating me to include merit, political versatility and the long term dream of my parents that one of us should be closer home. Alhaji Alli is very close to my immediate
family and we discuss about everything under the sun. Not minding his role, he kept the whole details away from me until much later.
It was after they had settled for me that Mr Adeniyi Adesina reached out to me. Before then, I had no relationship whatsoever with any political actor in Osun. I left Abuja on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, after attending my wife’s 40th birthday anniversary party the previous day. Incidentally, Alhaji Alli was at the event and he never told me anything. By the time I got to Lagos, I got a call from Mr Adesina who told me that the governor wanted to see me. I asked him what was it about? He said I was being considered for the position of a chief press secretary. I told him I was not
interested, but he insisted that I should think about it.

“| asked him further why he was leaving, as he was the chief press secretary when he called me. He told me The Nation had recalled him.
Afterwards, Alhaji Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor,
Northern Operations of The Nation, who I am very close to, then called me. He knew about two offers I had turned down, including that of the then Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. He urged me not to turn down the latest offer and admonished me to take it up, especially because I did not lobby for it. Despite all the appeals, I was very reluctant because I did not
know the man (Governor Oyetola) and I did not want anyone to tarnish the reputation I had taken years to build in journalism. So, I called Mr Adesina to inform him that I would not be able to make it the date they wanted me to come, but that I could come at my own
time. Nevertheless, I travelled to Osun two days after the appointed time.

“I met the governor and discussed with him. He told me he liked me and wanted to work with me, but that he was not sure if I was prepared to work with him. I asked that he should give me two weeks to consider the appointment. Later, I got to know that Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Saturday Editor of Nigerian Tribune had also mentioned my name to my principal when the governor contacted him if he could recommend someone for the position. I must confess here that but for Alhaji Alli’s involvement, I probably would not have given Osun a thought. Before meeting with the governor, Alhaji Alli had asked me to speak with Mr Dele Alake, the current Minister of Solid Minerals, whom I presumed was to interview me on behalf of Governor Oyetola. He asked if he had met me before and I told him in affirmative, that I was part of the panellists that prepared His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the Lagos governorship debate in the build up to the 2019 governorship contest in Lagos State. He then said, “the young chap from Journalists’ Hangout? You are eminently qualified.”