ABUJA – A former aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Adetokunbo Thomas, has revealed that the relationship between Tinubu and former Babatunde Raji Fashola deteriorated significantly during Fashola’s first term as governor, with the rift almost costing him a second term in office.
Thomas, now a Professor of History at Lagos State University, made the revelations in excerpts from his autobiography, Lagos Boy and Lagos Politics, scheduled for launch on July 9, 2026.
According to the former presidential ally, the fallout between Tinubu and Fashola began shortly after Fashola assumed office in 2007, driven by disagreements over loyalty, succession plans and the control of Lagos State’s political structure.
Thomas alleged that after securing his first term, Fashola gradually distanced himself from Tinubu and began building an independent political network.
“By 2010, when it was time to prepare for a second term, BAT showed BRF and his boys that the vowel ‘A’ connotes ‘Agbara’ (Power) in Yoruba by withdrawing his support for BRF,” Thomas wrote.
The historian claimed the development forced Fashola to embark on a reconciliation campaign, reaching out to traditional rulers and influential political figures to persuade Tinubu to reconsider.
According to Thomas, prominent figures including Pius Akinyelure, Prince Eludoyin and Egbon Salami were mobilised to intervene on Fashola’s behalf.
Thomas further alleged that Tinubu became concerned over what he perceived as Fashola’s attempt to build a separate political power base by positioning his own preferred successor instead of strengthening Tinubu’s political structure ahead of his national ambitions.
He said there was an internal understanding within the political family that the next governor after Fashola should emerge from Lagos East and be a Christian, a move intended to balance regional and religious representation after 16 years of Muslim governors.
However, Thomas claimed Fashola pursued a different succession agenda centred on his preferred candidate, further widening the rift within the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Amid the growing crisis, Thomas said he wrote a newspaper article titled “Tinubu-Fashola: Crossroads, Not Dead-End,” urging Tinubu to forgive Fashola and allow him to seek a second term.
He said he sought Tinubu’s approval before publication to avoid giving the impression that he was publicly challenging his political leader.
According to Thomas, Tinubu reviewed the article, discussed its contents with him and eventually authorised its publication.
“The moment he told me to go ahead with it and even told me to publish it in The News, I knew immediately that Fashola would get a second term,” Thomas wrote.
Tinubu eventually backed Fashola’s re-election bid, a decision Thomas said he welcomed despite his personal differences with the governor.
“I was happy because I saw victory in playing a positive role in the elevation of an adversary who was plotting my own downfall,” he stated.
Thomas added that tensions resurfaced after Fashola secured a second term, as disagreements over his successor reportedly re-emerged. According to him, while Fashola allegedly sought to install his preferred candidate, Tinubu eventually settled for former Lagos State Accountant-General, Akinwunmi Ambode, as the preferred candidate for the 2015 governorship election.
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