During an interview on Arise Television, Oluwafemi John Adebayo, Head of Research & Strategy at Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), raised concerns about ministers resigning from appointed positions to contest elections. He emphasized the importance of examining what officials have accomplished in the offices entrusted to them before seeking other political positions.
The recent resignations of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, have heightened public anticipation ahead of upcoming elections. However, the Minister of Power did not resign by the March 31 deadline despite his ambition to contest the Oyo governorship, sparking further questions about accountability.
John argued that leaving a ministerial role to pursue an electoral position should come with scrutiny of past performance. He suggested that the public and media have a right to ask what tangible changes have been achieved, particularly in critical sectors like energy and power.
“I think that’s very important because they’re leaving a particular position and they’re aiming for another. I think the question is, what have they done with the office that has been entrusted unto them? Because that is very important. Subtly, I was just smiling when I listened to the minister of power talking about his turn to contest (Emilokan). And the question is, what has he done with the trust of that ministry? Has he changed anything around the energy and power in the country? These are questions to ask,” John said.