Senator Adams Oshiomhole has stated that his son, Cyril, is qualified to serve as the Commissioner of Health in Edo State, dismissing criticisms surrounding the appointment.
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and the senator representing Edo North, made this assertion during an interview on Wednesday.
Cyril, a United States-trained medical doctor, was appointed by Governor Monday Okphebolo in November shortly after the governor’s inauguration.
However, the appointment has sparked widespread criticism, with some describing it as an act of favouritism and a reward for Oshiomhole’s support in the governor’s election campaign.
When asked if he endorsed the appointment, Oshiomhole revealed that he had expressed reservations to the governor and his son when the decision was made.
“He doesn’t work under me; maybe Governor Monday is grooming him,” Oshiomhole said.
Continuing, he said, “When I was in Edo, I stopped him when he wanted to go for the House of Reps. I said no and supported another guy. The second time he wanted to try, I said no. This time the governor decided to pick him. He is qualified.
“I did express my concerns when I heard. I called him and expressed my concerns. I expressed those concerns to the governor that people might say this and that.
“Those were the reasons why I stopped him from contesting elections when I was in office, but then I have to accept that in the world that we live in, you can only do so much to control your son but not when he is already of adult age.
“But the point must be made: I invested in my children’s education. I didn’t want them to go through what I went through. So, Dr Cyril is not just a medical doctor from ABU (Ahmadu Bello University); he went to do post-graduate in two universities in the US including Harvard and another university in Louisiana. He does something about public health.
“So, he is not having it because he is Oshiomhole; I will say he is having it in spite of being Oshiomhole.”
