A major political crisis has continued to fester between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and four of his political protégés, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, following moves to deliver political structures to All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate ahead of 2023.
The APC National Leader, Tinubu, had established his stranglehold over Lagos State and the party machinery after he completed a two-term of eight years as governor from 1999 to 2007.
Tinubu has continued to hold sway in Lagos dictating who becomes what in terms of political appointments and elective positions such as governor.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice between 1999-2007. Babatunde Fashola was Chief of Staff to Bola Tinubu and later served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015.
Aregbesola had served for eight years under Tinubu as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure before he became governor of Osun State. Ambode served as Lagos governor between 2015 to 2019 and failed to get ticket for a second term due to his disagreement with Tinubu.
However, it was learnt that Osinbajo, Fashola, Aregbesola, Ambode had in recent times began subtle moves with politicians from other regions to build a formidable political base ahead of 2023 elections.
A source close to Tinubu said the cold war worsened when Osinbajo, Fashola, Aregbesola, Ambode, recently shunned Tinubu’s invitation for an exclusive political meeting. It was learnt that only incumbent Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and another unnamed Lagos Senator attended the meeting.
Sources also said the actions of the four are not unconnected with the body language of power brokers in the North. It was revealed that the North has no plans of ceding power to the South West, adding that the North are scheming to return power to themselves and pick a South Easterner as Vice President.
Further investigations also revealed that notable political stakeholders in the North while giving reasons, they intend to keep power in the North cited that Tinubu was becoming a political burden to the APC and the Southwest region.
The northern leaders also cited the Godfather roles played by Bola Tinubu and the former Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole which fueled crisis and acrimony amongst members of the party that led to the party’s loss in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State.
In Ondo State, though the APC won the October 10 gubernatorial election, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was reelected was initially never in the good books of Bola Tinubu. Mr Tinubu was then advised to avoid making any broadcast or statement that could make the people of the state reject Mr Akeredolu in the election which he obeyed.