The Bond Between Babatunde Fashola and Olasupo Shasore

Friendship bonds are not forged over one dinner session, one chance meeting at a party, or one encounter during which shoulders bump and glances are exchanged. Friendship bonds are forged over shared experiences, varying from good times to accusations of theft and fraud. In this regard, former Lagos State governor and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, is friends with Olasupo Shasore, his Attorney General that year.

Things are moving faster than eyes can blink. It seems like it was only a few months ago that Fashola roamed the streets of Lagos as governor and walked across the nation as Works and Housing minister. Today, the man has retired from the factory rooms of politics and is considering sharing some of his experiences these past years.

It is on this note that Fashola recently published a book titled “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole” in which he displayed his knowledge and understanding of public issues in Nigeria. In the book, Fashola reportedly set pen to paper to unveil some of the realities of state and country, going into great detail to disclose important drivers and motivations behind some of the issues faced by Nigerians.

Curiously, Shasore is reported to have played a significant role in Fashola’s book. This is not altogether surprising for two reasons: one, Shasore and Fashola are very good friends as the years have shown. Secondly, Shasore was around during Fashola’s adventure as Lagos State governor. He very likely played some of the tunes that determined the dance of issues around Fashola.

Perhaps Fashola is only paying back for Shasore’s good gestures when the latter also featured him in his book, “Possessed,” published in 2014. Fashola had written the foreword to that book and reportedly featured heavily in it. Now that Fashola has chronicled his perspective, it is only right that his good friend, Shasore, plays a major role. This is the bond of friendship, tight and tethered.