I got Tinubu’s appointment without lobbying – Buhari’s ex-minister
Adebayo Shittu, a former Minister of Communications in the cabinet of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, has denied lobbying for his current appointment.
Shittu was among those recently announced by President Bola Tinubu as heads and chairmen of governing councils for federal universities.
The Oyo grassroots politician was appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Dave Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State.
The appointments have set tongues wagging, with many saying they must have been influenced by the new appointees after failing to make Tinubu’s ministerial list.
But Shittu debunked it, saying he never lobbied for it.
According to him, it was an appointment he wasn’t expectin,g but he accepted it with gratitude.
He said, “I could not have lobbied to become pro-chancellor of the university. I was a minister for four years. Before that, I had been commissioner twice at age 30. That was in 1983. I was a Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture in the larger Oyo State.
“And in 2007, I was Attorney General of Oyo State before becoming minister. So, I could not have lobbied. I wanted more executive positions where I could use my experience over the years, almost 45 years, political experiences and so on. But when I got this appointment, I took it in my stride, and I’m putting in my best to justify it.
“It was not what I expected from the government. I expected a more executive position where I could use my brain, ideas and dynamics. But when it came, I saw it as an opportunity to also excel in managing that university which, unexpectedly, is in the heart of Igboland.”
While saying he initially had a bad feeling about his new role, the former minister affirmed that Ebonyi offered him a new experience and insight into the beauty of the South-East.
“I had been so scared about moving to the South-East in view of a lot of negative reports about insecurity. But I find Ebonyi a very wonderful place. Anytime I’m going there for meetings, I see it as homecoming. It is a beautiful place, and the state is particularly very peaceful, more peaceful perhaps than some other states in Igboland.
‘So, I’m okay and happy. The management of the university has been very wonderful in cooperating and collaborating with me and the governing council. I’m determined to do my best to ensure that that university grows by leaps and bounds.”
