People Pres. TINUBU Does Not Joke With

• In & Outside Government

Have you ever wondered about those who President Bola Ahmed Tinubu listens to? We are talking of the people who Mr. President holds in high esteem.

As City People celebrates its 28th Anniversary, we have decided to take a look at those who are the close associates of Pres. Bola Tinubu, who he does not joke with. Do you know them? Let’s tell you a few who enjoy the President’s confidence.

Below is their story.

Before President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, became the President of Nigeria, he had a lot of friends, drawn from different parts of Nigeria. Over the years and since he went into Politics in 1992, he  had built a network of  fiercely loyal friends and political associates.

Don’t forget he started his political career with many political icons like late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. He was a member of many groups including the Afenifere.

He was at the centre of the pro-democracy activism which followed the annulment of the June 12 presidential elections.

Because of his activism, he drew a lot of people to himself from across the country.

During his 8 year tenure as the Governor of Lagos State, he built a huge network of loyalists and friends from diverse sectors.

After he left office, he still continued to nurture his political machinery.

He had friends from the North, South, East and West.

He made many Emirs his friends. He had an intricate web of politicians drawn from all the ethnic groups in the country.

He also had loyalists that he made whom they are today.

So, by the time he began work on his presidential ambition, he had built a formidable network of promient people who are traditional rulers, Emirs, professionals, politicians and pro-democracy activists.

Now, that he is President, he has maintained his friendship with many of these people, both inside and outside government.

Have you wondered who those whom Mr. President holds in high esteem are? Have you wondered who are his friends? Have you thought about who the President’s Men are? We can tell you. We know them.

They are in various categories. The 1st group consists of the President’s Boys, who work with him directly. They see him everyday. They take instructions from him. These include members of the Kitchen Cabinet.

The 2nd group includes some of his Ministers, Special Assistants, and Heads of Parastatals.

The 3rd group is made up of Lawmakers, from both the National and State Assemblies.

The 4th group consists of some of the Governors and Commissioners.

The 5th group is made up of politicians from across the country.

The 6th group is made up some elder statesmen and traditional rulers.

The 7th group is made up of some of his immediate family members.

And the 8th group is made up of some of his old time friends whom he is still very close to.

The 9th group consists of some members of the international community.

Can you guess who they are?

Lets unveil them right away.

The first group are those you can call All The President’s Men. The group is led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and it has as members the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuru Ribadu, and the Police IG. There are other Service Chiefs who belong to this group.

Part of the President’s Men are Bayo Onanuga who handles his media, Dele Alake (Minister of Minning), Hakeem Muri Okunola (who was the former Lagos HOS and now the President’s Principal Staff Secretary).

There are others like the Finance Minister who is also the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, who is often referred to as Super Minister because of the enormity of his job. He has been entrusted with overseeing several other ministers. The Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso also has the ears of the President.

We can’t also forget some of the President’s powerful Ministers like FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, David Umahi who is in charge of the Works Ministry and the recently appointed Minister, Bianca Odimegwu Ojukwu. These Ministers have special roles to play in the scheme of things.

Another female cabinet member who is so powerful is the Special Adviser on Policy Co-ordination, Hadiza Bala Usman.

There are others like Sunday Dare who has just been brought back to the government fold. He is one of the President’s most trusted boys.

There is also Tunji Bello who the President likes a lot. He has served in government in Lagos. He is now at the federal for years.

Outside government, there are people like Prince Dipo Eludoyin of Paragon Holdings. He is one of the President’s age long friends. the Chairman of NNPC, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi who was with the President during the NADECO days, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Mallam Shehu Sanni, Afenifere Leader, Pa Fasoranti who loves the President so much.

In Politics also are the likes of Aremo Olusegun Osoba who is one of the closest people to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Their relationship dates back to when they were governors and neigbours at Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi. Papa Akande who the President loves so much. There is also Chief Olusi.

Those who are closest to Pres. Tinubu are his family members like the 1st Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Seyi Tinubu & his brother, Yinka.

The President does not joke with the House of Reps Speaker, Abass and the Senate President Akpabio.

There are also traditional rulers like the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona who has been close to the President for decades. There is also the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Alake of Egbaland. The President is very close to them.

There are few Governors who have the ears of the President as well. Governor Hope Uzodinma, is one. He is in charge of the East.

In the North, the President has so many Emirs as friends. He is close to Emir Lamido Sanusi, the new Emir of Kano. Let’s also tell you about the Emir of Borgu, Haliru Dantoro who gave him the title of Jagaban of Borgu several years ago. They have come a long way too.