SanwoAgain: Meet Gbenga Omotoso, the Image Maker of Lagos

That Gbenga Omotoso again made the list of commissioner nominees to form Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet may not be surprising to those who have been following trends in Lagos State, particularly with the events that unfolded in the first tenure of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration of four years.

The first term administration which terminated on May 29, was topped with another term of four years to be led by Governor Sanwo-Olu again. However, hindsight into certain major events of the first four years of the admininstration and personalities around which they are built may give rational perception to proffer certain insight for foresight into what may be expected in the second phase of the administration for another four years.

As easy it may sound, the selection of personalities to constitute the formation of a Governors’ cabinet may sound simple, but the rigour of the process is deep seated. The need to balance ethno-religious divides, while holding forth the necessity for the  choice of capable persons with the thrust of competence, amidst the noise of battles for compensation for political players may not present so much an easy play off as many would want to think. It is indeed a subject of encumbered crafting by any Governor.

For Governor Sanwo-Olu, it would not be an exception, particularly for a State like Lagos where the competition is very tough with the burden to sustain the  virtue of      excellence as a leading light for other States. Hence, the onus of forming a cabinet that would certify the standard of excellence amidst vibrating sounds of diverse interest is one of tough adventure.

The fact that Governor Sanwo-Olu submitted the nominee list to the State’s House of Assembly only few hours to the 60 days deadline set by a new amendment to the 1999 constitution for President and Governors upon inauguration to submit their Ministers/Commissioners nomination list to the parliament respectively, is enough a proof that the selection process was a tough game.

Hence, for anyone to have made the enlisting is on its own a record of  firm recognition. Tensions were heightened on the day of the deadline for submission, as many awaited the list, doubting if Governor Sanwo-Olu would float the new conditional provision. However, when Governor Sanwo-Olu made the list available to the Clerk of the House on same July 28 which was to be the termination date as set by the new legislation, reactions trailed the list. Of the many reactions that greeted the list, key of note were stakeholders who made the list for a second term, having formed part of the first four years administration. It was thus crystal clear that not all cabinet members of the 2019 – 2023 cabinet which was dissolve on May 24 made it for a second term.

One key figure who would be the subject of interest here, among those who scaled for the second term in cabinet enlisting is Gbenga Omotoso, the immediate past Commissioner of Information and Strategy in the first four years of the  Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration.

Of indelible note of the first term of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led government was that the administration was beset with  challenges which in their rights look calamitous, but mostly appeared not by carelessness and may not be clearly said to be natural, but seems more an act of fate as may be better put.

The administration at the onset in 2019 came on board at a time when potholes seeming to have been inherited from low standard construction of the previous administration had spread across the State. It was about the first struggle to deal with. Coming at a time when the rain was at its prime for the season, immediae reconstruction looked more of a tough endeavour. However, as citizens would have it, there would be no excuse for failure. How to manage the situation and make citizens reason with the government was a key subject. Although provisions have been made to address the problem, the implementation is bound by the circumstantial season of torrential rainfall. Information must be managed stragetically to keep residents calm. Centre at this course was then Gbenga Omotoso, who resumed his job officially in August 2019.

Gbenga Omotoso was before his appointment into public office, the editor of The Nation Newspaper. A renowned columnist who is sound at his job, Omotoso was one of those in private practice who made the list of Sanwo-Olu’s first term cabinet outside the root of political patronage. His appointment had no much struggles of conflict as he was believed to be fit for the job. His strategy of information management proved him right as stakeholders attested to his professional acumen, not wanting in moral principles and good courtesy in the delivery of his job. His posture has been a girdle of a gentle man, firm at his duty post. Omotoso would pay attention to details, never dodging any question pregnant with controversy, neither would he be found shunning or harassing anyone for asking same.

This posture was well displayed when at different fora, pregnant questions relating to the 2020 #ENDSARS Lekki Toll Gate alleged shooting  would be posed by individuals of diverse interests.  The subject was a storm of shaky wave to the government, a challenge that only demands strategic information management. At a time the wave took on confusing state on the government, when almost everyone would want to believe the negative side of the involvement of the State Government in alleged massacre, Omotoso was at the central point of information management. Questions posed over time, even as the controversy spanned across time till recently, have been answered by him with convincing facts, even up to the heels of the elections when questions bordering on the #ENDSARS were rejigged and presented forward for political scores.

Sundry controversial issues of tough concerns including struggles that surrounded the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown and other associated outburst were captured under good information management technique from the office of Omotoso as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

No doubt, Omotoso played key role for the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term. He chaired the information sub committe for his second term  inauguration and even played critical role for information management during the electioneering political campaigns.

Omotoso in his disposition is well embracing to stakeholders. Newsmen have attested to his openness in reactions to  issues when situations arise. Even when they are clouded with controversies, Omotoso would give rapt attention, calmly giving detailed response. His calmness and openness, responding to issues, even late at night, endeared him to stakeholders. Where referrals were important for further details, he would provide same. He has proven the worth of professional conduct with the virture of moral uprightness in temperance. It is no doubt, he would be one of the deserving cabinet members to be returned to his portfolio of strategic state information management. Watch out for other key stakeholders in the series.