Group tackles Agbaje over comments on new Lagos HoS, Muri-Okunola
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje has been lambasted for condemning the appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola as the new Head of Service (HoS), of Lagos State.
The Convener of Ibile Progressive Youths, IPY, Bayo Plunter in a press statement issued in Lagos and made available to journalists said Agbaje’s outburst was unnecessary, uncharitable and diversionary.
The IPY comprises about 20 groups of young and dynamic professionals from the three senatorial districts in Lagos State.
Agbaje, had faulted the appointment of Muri-Okunola as the new Head of Service in the state, saying the action sacrificed career progression and was ‘politics taken too far.’
It will be recalled that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday, sworn in Muri-Okunola as the 21st HoS in the state, in place of Mrs. Folashade Adesoye who retired in December 2018.
At 46 years old, Muri-Okunola is said to be the youngest ever HoS in the history of Lagos State.
Agbaje, in a statement by his campaign organisation’s Directorate of Media and Publicity, on Thursday, described the appointment as “insensitive, unjust and disruptive of the civil service hierarchy.
He said, “Indications are that, to pave way for the assisted meteoric rise of the new HoS, the Lagos State Government had, between January and November 2018, forcefully retired no fewer than 21 permanent secretaries considered as superiors and more experienced to the new man.”
But in countering Agbaje’s position, the Ibile Progressive Youth, said that “recent statements of Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, including his unprovoked attack on the new Lagos HoS are increasingly unnerving.”
Plunter further said: “While the appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a dynamic, qualified and hard working young man has been roundly applauded by progressive minds, it is a bitter pill for Mr. Agbaje and his ilk to swallow.
“It is evident from Mr. Agbaje’s statement how desperately he wishes the wheel of progress in the Centre of Excellence be reversed.
“His statement smack of bile, divisiveness and incitement of our hard working civil servants to rebellion over a simple, constitutional executive action.
“While IPY remains non-aligned, but keenly monitoring the activities and promises of the governorship candidates involved in the political contestation for Office of Governor of Lagos State, we are concerned about the direction of Mr. Agbaje’s campaigns.”
The IPY wondered why the likes of Jimi Agbaje, who it said claimed to be an indigene of Lagos State, would fault the appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a true son of the soil and an indigene of the state, as HoS.
Plunter posited that the PDP shot itself on the leg by faulting the appointment of a relatively young man as the HoS of the state despite its “noise that it would give chance to young people in their governments both at the state and at the Federal levels if they win the 2019 elections.”
The group added that it was obvious that the PDP was not in support of the “Not Too Young To Run Law” passed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“If a young man like Macron could be elected as the President of France, Austria on December 12, 2018 elected the world’s youngest president, who is 31 years old, his name is Sebastian Kurz. Before those elections, he was the country’s foreign minister.
“While our youth are contented with being used as praise singers and be special assistants on social media, youths elsewhere are disrupting the status quo, pushing for innovation, changing the narrative and pushing for new frontiers.
So, why are we now trying to criticise a government that is trying to encourage the youths?” They asked.
Adding that, “In any case, the questions are was Governor Ambode right in retiring Permanent Secretaries, the answer is yes, was he right in appointing an HoS, the answer is yes. Also, is Muri-Okunola qualified for the post, the answer is yes,” the group said, adding that Agbaje is oblivious of the trend in politics and governance all over the world. By Patrick Okohue
The Convener of Ibile Progressive Youths, IPY, Bayo Plunter in a press statement issued in Lagos and made available to journalists said Agbaje’s outburst was unnecessary, uncharitable and diversionary.
The IPY comprises about 20 groups of young and dynamic professionals from the three senatorial districts in Lagos State.
Agbaje, had faulted the appointment of Muri-Okunola as the new Head of Service in the state, saying the action sacrificed career progression and was ‘politics taken too far.’
It will be recalled that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday, sworn in Muri-Okunola as the 21st HoS in the state, in place of Mrs. Folashade Adesoye who retired in December 2018.
At 46 years old, Muri-Okunola is said to be the youngest ever HoS in the history of Lagos State.
Agbaje, in a statement by his campaign organisation’s Directorate of Media and Publicity, on Thursday, described the appointment as “insensitive, unjust and disruptive of the civil service hierarchy.
He said, “Indications are that, to pave way for the assisted meteoric rise of the new HoS, the Lagos State Government had, between January and November 2018, forcefully retired no fewer than 21 permanent secretaries considered as superiors and more experienced to the new man.”
But in countering Agbaje’s position, the Ibile Progressive Youth, said that “recent statements of Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, including his unprovoked attack on the new Lagos HoS are increasingly unnerving.”
Plunter further said: “While the appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a dynamic, qualified and hard working young man has been roundly applauded by progressive minds, it is a bitter pill for Mr. Agbaje and his ilk to swallow.
“It is evident from Mr. Agbaje’s statement how desperately he wishes the wheel of progress in the Centre of Excellence be reversed.
“His statement smack of bile, divisiveness and incitement of our hard working civil servants to rebellion over a simple, constitutional executive action.
“While IPY remains non-aligned, but keenly monitoring the activities and promises of the governorship candidates involved in the political contestation for Office of Governor of Lagos State, we are concerned about the direction of Mr. Agbaje’s campaigns.”
The IPY wondered why the likes of Jimi Agbaje, who it said claimed to be an indigene of Lagos State, would fault the appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a true son of the soil and an indigene of the state, as HoS.
Plunter posited that the PDP shot itself on the leg by faulting the appointment of a relatively young man as the HoS of the state despite its “noise that it would give chance to young people in their governments both at the state and at the Federal levels if they win the 2019 elections.”
The group added that it was obvious that the PDP was not in support of the “Not Too Young To Run Law” passed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“If a young man like Macron could be elected as the President of France, Austria on December 12, 2018 elected the world’s youngest president, who is 31 years old, his name is Sebastian Kurz. Before those elections, he was the country’s foreign minister.
“While our youth are contented with being used as praise singers and be special assistants on social media, youths elsewhere are disrupting the status quo, pushing for innovation, changing the narrative and pushing for new frontiers.
So, why are we now trying to criticise a government that is trying to encourage the youths?” They asked.
Adding that, “In any case, the questions are was Governor Ambode right in retiring Permanent Secretaries, the answer is yes, was he right in appointing an HoS, the answer is yes. Also, is Muri-Okunola qualified for the post, the answer is yes,” the group said, adding that Agbaje is oblivious of the trend in politics and governance all over the world. By Patrick Okohue
