…As Bode Agoro Takes Over From HMO
Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has been carrying out a lot of sacking and re-deploying exercises, ever since he assumed office last May

In the last couple of months, Ambode has sacked many civil servants, who were hitherto, considered to be untouchable, while he re-deployed a few others. The latest of such move is the redeployment of Super Permanent Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola from Ministry of Lands to Youths and Sports.

Apparently, no one saw it coming. HMO as Muri-Okunola is popularly called, is considered an untouchable. The letter, which arrived yesterday, shook the Ministry to its very foundations.

Sources disclosed that the easy-going, hard-working but taciturn gentleman has been replaced by Mr. Bode Agoro who was the erstwhile Director of Planning in the same ministry.
Ironically, Agoro and Muri-Okunola are described as bosom friends.

Many allege that HMO is one of the most influential personages within the Lagos, Alausa Secretariat and his name was even bandied as a possible successor to immediate past governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN. Apart from being the man at the helm of an influential Ministry like Lands, his closeness to the former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is well-known. Therefore, his word on certain matters was law.

HMO’s rise in the Lagos Civil service was rapid. From being a Special Assistant to former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the son of influential Judge, Justice Muritala Aremu Okunola who died in 2004, was quickly moved to Executive Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, and then upgraded to Permanent Secretary.