Laolu Akande, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has alleged that powerful figures within President Bola Tinubu's inner circle are actively working to keep former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola out of the Federal Government. Akande claims these individuals fear that Fashola's refusal to compromise would disrupt certain practices within the administration.
Akande made the claim during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published by Symfoni TV on Friday. While he acknowledged that Fashola may be partly absent from government due to personal fatigue, he argued that resistance from those close to the President was the more decisive factor.
Fashola's Uncompromising Stance
"Fashola was known for standing his ground and would not compromise his principles to accommodate questionable practices," Akande said, suggesting that this trait made him an inconvenient figure for some of those currently influencing the Tinubu administration.
Akande did not name any of the individuals he accused of opposing Fashola's inclusion, nor did he specify the practices he alleged they sought to shield from scrutiny. His claims could not be independently verified, and neither the Presidency nor Fashola has responded to the allegations.
Akande Speaks on Tinubu, Fashola's Relationship
Despite his absence from government, Akande insisted that Fashola and Tinubu remain close, maintaining there has been no significant public rift between the two politicians.
Fashola governed Lagos State from 2007 to 2015 before joining Buhari's cabinet, where he served as Minister of Power, Works and Housing and later as Minister of Works and Housing. Since Tinubu assumed the presidency in May 2023, however, Fashola has not been appointed to any position in the administration.
Broader Critique of Tinubu's Circle
Beyond the Fashola allegation, Akande broadened his critique to argue that Tinubu had not fully utilised people around him who were capable of offering honest, independent counsel. He suggested the President's circle had, in some cases, been shaped by individuals who preferred loyalists over those who might push back on decisions.
