Tinubu appointed Muri-Okunola because of Gbajabiamila’s failure — Laolu Akande

All is not well inside Aso Rock Villa.

Former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, has revealed why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had to draft Hakeem Muri-Okunola, his Principal Private Secretary, to handle critical assignments meant for the Chief of Staff.

According to Akande, the move was a direct vote of no confidence in Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaking on the popular Naija Unfiltered Podcast, Akande, who served as media aide to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said Villa insiders are aware that Gbajabiamila has not lived up to expectations.

“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 was blunt: “If the chief of staff was doing his job properly, he wouldn’t need HMO; that’s the truth.”

Akande, known for his frank political commentaries, said President Tinubu is yet to give Nigerians his best because he has not surrounded himself with strong, independent-minded people who can tell him the truth.

He listed former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola, former VP Osinbajo, former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola and CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso as examples of such influential figures.

He particularly praised Cardoso, saying the President gives him free hand to run the Central Bank because of mutual respect.

“The president even doesn’t try to interfere with Cardoso because he knows him. I think they call him Head Master… The president doesn’t have people like that around him,” Akande added.

Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a former Head of Service in Lagos State, was appointed as Principal Private Secretary to President Tinubu in 2023.