Tinubu washes hands off Fashola’s travails

Former governor of Lagos State, and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has distanced himself from some recent revelations viewed as attacks by many on another former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola.

There have been recent revelations in the state suggesting that Fashola may have misappropriated the state’s resources in the award of contracts while in office.

In a statement from his media office yesterday, Tinubu who condemned the attacks which seemed aimed at discrediting Fashola, and the allegations that he (Tinubu), was behind the attacks were the handiworks of mischief makers sponsored by the opposition PDP in the state.

Tinubu who expressed confidence that Fashola would emerge victorious at the end, also stated, that he remained proud of Fashola and would never be part of any process to bring him down, because he contributed immensely to the development of Lagos.

The statement reads in part, “The past elections were an epic confrontation between two opposing political camps. Those who believed in the progressive governance of the people gathered under the banner of the APC. Those who harkened to the conservative elitism that had cast this nation downward for so many years held to the PDP.

“The elections clearly showed the preference of the average Nigerian. They chose the APC and rejected the PDP nationally and in Lagos state. Since the commanding victory of the APC in Lagos and all over Nigeria, the enemies of progressive governance have cleverly been at work, trying to regain through intrigue and subterfuge what they so openly and fairly lost in the elections.

Read also: Lagos reveals more of Fashola’s ‘overblown’ spendings

“Our political opponents now try to steal victory when their only entitlement is resounding defeat.

Having fared woefully with the electorate, their game plan is to sow discord within the ranks of the party people had chosen to lead them. The PDP hopes to strike division in the APC, in that way weakening us and our ability to govern”, he said.

“I am proud to say that I played an instrumental role in bringing Governor Fashola into politics in the first instance. He served as my trusted chief of staff, performing excellently in that role. Due to his leadership qualities and diligent work ethic, I endorsed him for governor notwithstanding the stiff and vocal opposition of many. I am not ashamed of backing him. I believe the progress the state made under his administration has more than vindicated my endorsement”, he stated.

He added, “I for one will not bend to the artificial provocation of those seeking to tear at what we have painstakingly built over the years. In my mind, Governor Fashola and I alliance is unshakeable and our journey must not be interrupted. I would no more attack his character or his administration than I would attack myself.”

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