Akande Says Tinubu Allies Sidelined Fashola and Buhari Sidelined Tinubu

WHO:

Punch Newspapers - Laolu Akande, a former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made claims about President Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, and the Buhari administration.

Vanguard News - Akande discussed Tinubu’s appointment of Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Tinubu’s Principal Private Secretary, and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

Vanguard News - Akande named Fashola, Osinbajo, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso as capable figures he believed should have greater influence in Tinubu’s administration.

WHAT:

Punch Newspapers - Akande alleged that people around Tinubu opposed Fashola joining the Federal Government because Fashola “doesn’t take nonsense” and would not tolerate practices Akande said were occurring in the administration.

Vanguard News - Akande said Fashola’s absence could partly reflect fatigue, but that opposition from people around Tinubu was the more significant reason. He said Fashola remained close to Tinubu and there had been no public “blowout” between them.

Punch Newspapers - Akande alleged that Tinubu was marginalised within the All Progressives Congress during Buhari’s administration, despite contributing to Buhari’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate. He said, “I sat in meetings where they put Bola Ahmed Tinubu behind me.”

Punch Newspapers - Akande said Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, including Alake and Edun, were rejected and other candidates selected to show that Tinubu could not dictate the choices.

Vanguard News - Akande argued that Tinubu brought in Muri-Okunola to organise his schedule because Gbajabiamila was not performing his Chief of Staff duties effectively: “If the chief of staff was doing his job properly, he wouldn’t need HMO.”

Vanguard News - Akande said Tinubu had not delivered his best in office and praised Cardoso’s performance at the Central Bank, saying Tinubu did not interfere with him.

WHERE:

Punch Newspapers - Akande said he witnessed Tinubu being sidelined at APC meetings; he did not specify their locations.

Vanguard News - Muri-Okunola previously served as Lagos State Head of Service before becoming Tinubu’s Principal Private Secretary at the Presidency.

WHEN:

Punch Newspapers - Akande described Tinubu’s alleged marginalisation as occurring between 2015 and 2023 and referred to Buhari’s eight-year presidency.

Punch Newspapers - Fashola served as Lagos State governor from 2007 to 2015 and later served in Buhari’s cabinet.

WHY:

Punch Newspapers - Akande said Fashola’s principles and refusal to tolerate certain practices were reasons some people around Tinubu did not want him in the administration.

Vanguard News - Akande attributed Muri-Okunola’s scheduling role to what he described as Gbajabiamila’s failure to perform effectively.

HOW:

Punch Newspapers - Akande made the claims in an interview on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published by Symfoni TV.

Punch Newspapers - Akande said he personally witnessed Tinubu being placed behind him at meetings and claimed some nominees were replaced with candidates Tinubu had not nominated.

Punch Newspapers - Akande’s allegations about Fashola’s exclusion and Tinubu’s treatment were not independently verified; he did not identify the people he accused or provide details of the alleged meetings.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 16:01 UTC)

Laolu Akande, a former aide to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says people around President Bola Tinubu opposed bringing Babatunde Fashola into the federal government. Speaking on a podcast, Akande said Fashola’s principles and refusal to tolerate certain practices were behind the resistance, though he added there had been no public falling-out between Fashola and Tinubu. Akande also alleged Tinubu was sidelined within the governing party during Buhari’s presidency, despite helping Buhari become its presidential candidate. He said he witnessed Tinubu placed behind him at meetings and claimed some of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees were rejected and replaced. On Tinubu’s current team, Akande said Hakeem Muri-Okunola was brought in to manage the president’s schedule because Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila was not performing effectively. Akande said Tinubu had yet to deliver his best in office and praised Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso’s performance.