“President of What? — Fashola Rules Out Presidential Ambition

Former Lagos State Governor and ex Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has dismissed speculations that he is interested in contesting for the presidency of Nigeria, saying he is content with his current role and would rather allow history to judge his contributions to public service.

Fashola made the clarification during an interview on TVC, where he was asked about reports linking him with a possible presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

When asked if he would contest for the presidency, the former governor simply responded, “No,” before adding humorously, “President of what? I’m president at home.”

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The statement puts to rest months of speculation by political observers who had mentioned Fashola among possible figures who could emerge as contenders for Nigeria’s top political office in future elections.

Reflecting on his political journey spanning over two decades, Fashola described his experience in public service as a rare privilege, saying he hoped his career would inspire younger Nigerians to believe in the possibilities within the country.

The former minister, who served two terms as Lagos governor between 2007 and 2015 before becoming a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, said he was not interested in shaping how history remembers him.

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According to him, history should independently assess the impact of individuals in public office rather than being influenced by personal attempts to define their legacies.

Fashola also spoke on his continued relationship with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that he prefers offering advice privately rather than making public interventions. He said there is a difference between providing guidance and interfering in government affairs.

The former governor maintained that his experience in governance has taught him the importance of institutional stability, including protecting public confidence in democratic structures such as the judiciary.

On national issues, Fashola backed the idea of state police but cautioned that it should not be viewed as an immediate solution to all of Nigeria’s security challenges.

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He also weighed in on governance reforms, saying the country requires consensus among stakeholders on critical areas such as taxation, foreign policy and legislative oversight.

Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, served as Chief of Staff to Tinubu when the latter was Lagos governor before becoming governor himself, and later headed the federal ministries of Power, Works and Housing under Buhari.

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