Why some people in Tinubu’s govt don’t want Fashola around – Laolu Akande
Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has claimed that certain individuals within President Bola Tinubu’s administration oppose the inclusion of Babatunde Fashola, the former Minister of Works and Housing. Akande alleges that these individuals fear Fashola’s commitment to ethical governance would not align with their practices.
In an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, Akande referenced Fashola’s absence from the current administration, attributing it partly to fatigue. However, he emphasized that the opposition from some of Tinubu’s associates is a more significant influence on Fashola’s lack of involvement.
Describing Fashola as a principled leader, Akande remarked that he would not compromise his standards to accommodate the demands of those close to the president. He stated, “Fashola does not take nonsense, and the people who wanted to get some nonsense going, they didn’t want Fashola.”
While Fashola is said to maintain a close relationship with Tinubu, Akande hinted at the possibility of underlying tensions, despite the absence of overt public disagreement. “Even somebody like Fashola, who is still very close to the president — no problems openly, although there are currents he will speak about,” Akande noted.
He reiterated that opposition to Fashola’s potential role extends beyond his own hesitance to re-enter politics. Fashola served as the governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015 before joining the cabinet of former President Muhammadu Buhari, where he held consecutive titles as Minister of Power, Works and Housing and later Minister of Works and Housing. Since the inauguration of Tinubu, he has not been appointed to any position in the current government.
