Politics
Here Is The Most Powerful Man In Sanwo-Olu’s Govt…And It Is Not Deputy Gov Hamzat!
Eniola Adeniyi
At present, there is a powerful player in the government cabinet of Babajide Sanwo-Olu that everybody defers to.
‘’Everybody defers to him because he is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s golden boy and his extremely close to the powerful politician’’ a source stated.
Societynow.ng learned that the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri Okunola is regarded as the most powerful individual in the Lagos State Government.
Aside from drawing his power from the seemingly bottomless pit of Tinubu’s influence, insiders insist that to his credit HMO – as he is fondly called – is adept in the politics of Alausa, the seat of Lagos Government.
He forms a trio of the favored ‘’sons’’ of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu along with Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi and Folorunsho Folarin (Folly ) Coker, the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission.
The three talents groomed for high purposes since the days Tinubu was Governor of Lagos state ( and were part of the administration as models of what can be achieved as at a young age with dedication, hard work, and loyalty).
With guiding hands of Tinubu behind the scene – and his zeal – Muri Okunola became the man in charge of the plum Land Use and Allocation Committee as Executive Secretary ( just like a permanent Secretary) between 2005 and 2011.
‘’That was a position many will literally die for’’ societynow.ng learned.
It took the cold-hearted campaign by immediate past Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to pluck HMO from the plum position and post him to a relegated – in influence – role of Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
‘’And this was a time Ambode was sacking others with the infamous slogan of Mo Be Orie Danu ( translated I cut off his head but with the meaning I dealt with him), for HMO to remain in the system on the same cadre though reduced in influence shows how strong the power backing him is’’ a source pointed out.
And to show he enjoys immense support of the powers that be, HMO rose to make history as the youngest person to occupy the office of the Head of Service of the Lagos state government right in the heart of the scathing crisis between Ambode and Tinubu which has made many people casualties on both sides.
HMO was sworn on December 31, 208.
The development made HMO the first major player in the new government to be in place.
‘’He was a long-range and major shot in an engaging and unfolding power play’’ societynow.ng learned.
Societynow.ng learned that HMO is putting his putting the advantage to good use in deployment of ‘’troops’’ within government circle and ‘’correcting’’ the ills perpetrated by Ambode.
‘’Deployment of troops is the root cause of the hullabaloo over the removal of the Head of Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service Gbolahan Toriola’’ societynow.ng learned.
Just like Ambode purged the loyalists of his predecessor, his sympathizers especially those the former governor put in place to serve selfish interests are experiencing the same fate.
Societynow.ng learned that Head of Service is ensuring that ‘’ men loyal to the master plan of a grand Lagos designed by Tinubu’’ are being put in place to ensure governance is on the autorun as directed by the powerful politician irrespective of whoever occupies the office of Governor.
‘’And knowing where HMO draws his influence, many are naturally defer to him in most of these matters’’ societynow.ng learned.
