Obanikoro Reveals Why He Branded Fashola A ‘Toy Governor’ Under Tinubu

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has explained why he once described former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola as a “toy governor” during the build-up to the 2007 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obanikoro made the controversial remark after leaving the then-ruling political camp to contest the Lagos governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arguing at the time that Lagos did not need what he described as a “toy governor.”

Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, the former minister revisited the comment, saying it reflected his belief at the time that he possessed greater political experience and was better prepared to govern the state than Fashola.

Despite their political rivalry, Obanikoro described Fashola as a brother, noting that both of them hail from Isale Eko.

According to him, Fashola was not an established politician before becoming governor, having served primarily as then-Governor Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.

“Fashola is my brother, and we are both from Isale Eko and, to me, he was never a politician,” Obanikoro said.

He explained that his confidence stemmed from his own political résumé, which included serving as a local government chairman, commissioner and senator before seeking the governorship.

“So I felt that after serving as a local government chairman, as a commissioner, and in the Senate, I had more political maturity, exposure and experience to govern at that time,” he stated.

Obanikoro added that Fashola was making his first attempt at elective office during the 2007 election.

“Don’t forget that was the first time he was going to come out and run for anything as far as government is concerned. He was Chief of Staff to Oga,” he said.