Press Releases

Fashola Still The Best Man For The Job, Says Tinubu
…As Action Congress Says No Feud Between The Two

Feb 2, 2010 - For the umpteenth time Tuesday, the Action Congress, the Party to which incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and his immediate predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu belong, declared that there is no feud between the two men.

Speculations and newspaper publications have held sway in the last two weeks insinuating that the incumbent Governor and his predecessor are at loggerheads with some alleging the House of Assembly has begun a process of impeachment against the Governor.

But addressing Government House Correspondents Tuesday at the Bourdillon Road residence of Asiwaju Tinubu in company of the two men, the National Chairman of the Party, Chief Bisi Akande declared, “I speak today as Chairman of the Action Congress that the cordiality between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola remains as solid as it started in 2007”.

According to the Chairman, “Tunde Fashola is an anointed disciple of Tinubu and that was why in replacement of Bola Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State, we chose Tunde Fashola as our Governor of Lagos State. Therefore when we hear rumour or bad news in the press we feel worried and they more we deny that there is no feud between the two of them the more people want to say something like that”.

The Chairman said he was disturbed by the news that made headline in one of the regional papers yesterday concerning the two men but expressed joy that when he came to Lagos , he found them together and as cordial as ever in Asiwaju Tinubu’s home.

“Why are we not happy that Lagos is doing well? Why do we want a feud between the two of them when in the last one month the two of them have been saying no feud, no trouble and yet people continue to fuel some trouble?”, he asked.

On the issue of second term for the incumbent Governor, the Chairman said the Party has a process through which candidates emerge. “The national authority of the Party will sit and draw up guidelines for the emergence of a candidate for 2011 for all candidates all over the country. Lagos will not be an exception.”

Also speaking, Asiwaju Tinubu declared, “I am saying it categorically that all is well. All is well because I discovered the present Governor,at the initial stage people expressed doubt about him, they said they didn’t know him, they said he would not perform. I am the one who created the slogan, ‘The Best Man for the Job’ and I am still standing by that till tomorrow. So he is still the best man for the job”.

The former Governor, however, said he would, as a father and a more experienced politician and also in the interest of the State and the Party step in and advise the Governor on the right thing to do whenever he perceived any wrong moves.

“I will not watch him slip and fall and have bruises or broken hands and legs before I try to pick him up. Experience is acquired on the job and I am a very experienced politician and a matured one for that matter. Whatever is the speculation out there today calls for serious restraint and maturity. If they don’t abuse you in politics you have not succeeded; you can’t satisfy everybody”, the former Governor said pointing out that even in China where there is a Centrist government, there is still opposition.

Asiwaju Tinubu expressed dismay at the seeming determination of a group of people to cause trouble in Lagos . “What if some people want to change the headlines from Yar’Adua’s national absence to focus on another issue, the only place you can expect they can focus and shift the headline is Lagos ”.

He said the only thing that is paramount now is the interest of the State, the Party and the people of Lagos as well as the economy of the State. “Whatever anybody wants to believe, the interest of this State, the progress of our Party the stability and economic development of the State and the interest of our people is paramount”, he said.

Pointing out that no one can have 100 per cent support in politics, Asiwaju Tinubu declared, “When I was Governor, we disagreed in the Exco. We debated issues vibrantly. People should not exaggerate such disagreements or misunderstandings which come to nothing but in the interest of the State”.

In his contribution, Governor Fashola debunked the insinuation that there is a dispute between him and the Speaker of the House of Assembly or between the Executive Council and the Legislature. On the issue of a feud between him and his immediate predecessor, Governor Fashola declared, “My elders and our Party Leaders have spoken. I have nothing to add to it.”