Exposed: How a Secret Deal Shattered Tinubu And Aregbesolas’s 20 years Brotherhood
Exposed: How a Secret Deal Shattered Tinubu And Aregbesolas’s 20 years Brotherhood
For over two decades, Rauf Aregbesola stood as one of President Bola Tinubu’s most loyal allies. During Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor, Aregbesola served as commissioner and chief of staff a trusted figure whose voice mattered in every major political decision. When he contested for Osun State governor in 2010, it was Tinubu’s full backing that helped secure him the seat, which he held for eight years.
Former Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu has now shed new light on the real cause of the fallout — and it all revolves around a familiar name: Gboyega Oyetola.
According to Shittu, Oyetola wasn’t just Tinubu’s cousin; he was the financial lifeline behind Aregbesola’s political success. Whenever funds were needed, Tinubu reportedly directed Aregbesola to Oyetola. For years, this behind-the-scenes partnership worked — until the tables turned in 2018.
As Aregbesola’s term as Osun governor came to an end, he expected to name his own successor. But Tinubu had other plans: he endorsed Oyetola for the job. For Aregbesola, it was nothing short of betrayal. The same man who quietly funded his political ambitions was now being handed the seat he once held.
Efforts by Aregbesola to push his preferred candidate were ignored. Worse still, once Oyetola became governor, he reportedly began bypassing his predecessor — traveling to Lagos to visit Tinubu without acknowledging the man he had replaced.
Feeling sidelined and politically erased, Aregbesola eventually went public with his frustration. In February 2022, he launched a rare verbal attack on his former mentor, accusing Tinubu of being a “serial betrayer” who destroys the careers of those closest to him. “We’ve asked God to bring Tinubu down,” he reportedly said in a scathing address.
That same year, Oyetola lost his re-election bid to the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke. Many observers believe Aregbesola’s rebellion played a role in that defeat.
In July 2025, Aregbesola joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aligning himself with a rising coalition of opposition heavyweights aiming to unseat Tinubu in 2027. The coalition includes Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi — all now united in one of the most powerful political alliances in recent memory.
It’s a stunning reversal: the man who helped build Tinubu’s political empire is now one of its biggest threats.
This political drama offers more than just intrigue. It exposes the enduring grip of godfatherism in Nigerian politics, where loyalty often overrides democratic values and personal ambition can override long-standing alliances. It also raises questions about what kind of leadership Nigerians want — one driven by loyalty and patronage, or by ideas and integrity.
Aregbesola’s new role in the opposition gives the coalition a unique edge. He knows Tinubu’s strategy, machinery, and mindset. Whether this alliance can hold together long enough to make a real impact in 2027 remains to be seen.
