2015: Fashola dismisses speculation of being running mate to Buhari

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.