Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State,
yesterday, debunked rumours making the rounds
that he planned to be the running mate of former
Head of State, General Muhamadu Buhari (retd) in
the 2015 Presidential elections.
Fashola, who gave the clarification at the
commemoration of his 2,700 days in office and
account of stewardship in the last 100 days in
Ikeja, distanced himself from any plan to present
consensus candidates in the 2015 general
elections, saying there is due process for
candidates to emerge in All Progressives
Congress, APC.
It will be recalled that speculation was rife after
Fashola who was at Abuja last week where
former Head of State, General Muhamadu Buhari
declared intention to contest the 2015 presidential
election if given the opportunity by the APC.
The governor, who was brief on the issue, said he
was at the declaration event because Buhari
personally invited him, being an APC event and
based on the respect he had for him stressing
that there was nothing extra-ordinary about his
presence.
“My presence at Buhari`s declaration was because
he came to Lagos to personally deliver an
invitation letter to me. It was a pointer that I
respect him. it was a pointer that it was an APC
event. And it was pointer that I went to a party
event. “he said.
Fashola, therefore, urged residents to vote to
retain the APC in the next election, saying
experimenting a government led by another party
might not do the state any good.
On Consensus candidate
He also dispelled speculation that governorship
aspirants of the party in Lagos State are holding
meetings to endorse a consensus candidate
adding that the APC has a constitution which
prescribes primaries as prelude for emergence of
candidates for elective offices.
He said: “Well you said heard there are meetings
going to produce a consensus candidate in our
party. If you are aware, that is investigative
journalism, go and investigate more. And find out
what you can find out. But I believe the
constitution of our party provides for primaries
for the emergence of candidates.”
Fashola however, said all the aspirants in the
APC governorship race were good enough to
succeed him as they all acquitted themselves
remarkably well in the service of the state.
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