TINUBU APPOINTED MURI-OKUNOLA BECAUSE OF GBAJABIAMILA’S FAILURE — AKANDE

Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has attributed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to bring Hakeem Muri-Okunola into the Presidency to what he described as the failure of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to perform his duties effectively.

The revelation was made during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where Akande offered a detailed critique of the management of the Presidency and the caliber of individuals surrounding the President, ValidViewNetwork reports .

THE CORE ALLEGATION

Akande argued that the President’s reliance on Muri-Okunola, his Principal Private Secretary, to organise his schedule suggested significant shortcomings in the management of the Presidency.

“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 unequivocal about what this arrangement signified.

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

THE BROADER CRITIQUE OF TINUBU’S TEAM

Akande did not limit his criticism to Gbajabiamila. He argued that Tinubu had failed to surround himself with influential and capable figures who could help him deliver effective governance.

“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 is of the opinion that these experienced figures could strengthen the administration .

THE PRAISE FOR CARDOSO

Akande also praised Cardoso’s performance at the apex bank, suggesting that Tinubu’s familiarity with the CBN governor had allowed him to work with limited interference from the President.

“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.

THE CONTEXT

Muri-Okunola was appointed Principal Secretary to Tinubu in 2023 after serving as Lagos State Head of Service.

According to a statement from the Presidency at the time, he had previously served as a personal assistant to Tinubu when the President was governor of Lagos State, bringing more than 25 years of experience in law and public service to the role.

Akande’s remarks are not the first time he has criticised Gbajabiamila’s performance.

In July 2026, he called on the Chief of Staff to step aside over the PFIPC scandal, arguing that Gbajabiamila’s continued presence in office would undermine public confidence in any investigation.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Chief of Staff is one of the most powerful positions in the Presidency. The person who holds the office controls access to the President and influences key decisions.

Akande’s claim suggests that the arrangement within the Villa is not functioning as intended, that the Chief of Staff has been sidelined, and that the President has had to rely on another official to manage his schedule.

If true, it is a significant indictment of Gbajabiamila’s tenure.

For Gbajabiamila, the allegation is a stain on his record.

For Muri-Okunola, it is an opportunity to prove that he can succeed where his predecessor faltered.

The Presidency has not responded to Akande’s claims. The question of whether Gbajabiamila was replaced for underperformance or for other reasons remains unanswered.

But in the corridors of power, the message is clear: performance matters. And those who fail to deliver will be replaced.

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