Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has attributed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to involve Hakeem Muri-Okunola in managing his schedule to what he described as the failure of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to perform his duties effectively.
Akande argued that the president’s reliance on Muri-Okunola, who serves as his Principal Private Secretary, suggested weaknesses in the management of the Presidency.
He made the remarks during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he criticised Tinubu for allegedly failing to surround himself with influential and capable individuals who could help him deliver effective governance.
According to Akande, Muri-Okunola, a former Lagos State Head of Service, was brought in to organise the president’s schedule despite the presence of a chief of staff.
“This is the problem. The president has a chief of staff, for instance, even the people in that Villa will tell you that the chief in front of the staff is removed because of all the kinds of stuff that have happened and then the president has to go and bring Hakeem Muri-Okunola (HMO) to be organising his schedule,” Akande said.
He maintained that the need for Muri-Okunola’s involvement indicated that Gbajabiamila was not performing his responsibilities as expected.
“If the chief of staff was doing his job properly, he wouldn’t need HMO; that’s the truth,” he added.
Akande, who previously served as Senior Media Aide to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, also argued that Tinubu had yet to deliver his best despite having some capable individuals in his administration.
“So, the president has not managed to give us his best, and there are very good people in this administration. There are good people, few people, but they don’t have that kind of influence that people like Fashola, Osinbajo, Aregbesola, Cardoso,” he said.
Akande Names Individuals Tinubu Needs Around Him
The former presidential aide cited former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso as examples of experienced individuals whose influence, in his view, could benefit the president.
Akande also praised Cardoso’s performance at the apex bank, suggesting that Tinubu gives him room to operate because of their familiarity.
“The president even doesn’t try to interfere with Cardoso because he knows him. I think they call him Head Master or whatever. He looks everything. The president doesn’t have people like that around him,” he said.
Muri-Okunola previously served as Lagos State Head of Service before being appointed Tinubu’s Principal Private Secretary at the Presidency.
Akande’s comments add to the ongoing public debate about the management of the Presidency, the roles of key officials and the influence of experienced figures in the administration.
