2023 presidency: Tinubu didn’t tell me he’s running, says Fashola

• Tinubu in closed- door meeting with Orji Kalu

Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will in January 2022, speak on his rumoured bid for the 2023 presidency, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said.

Fashola, who spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Hard Copy’ programme aired on Friday night, said Tinubu did not tell him he would be contesting the presidential election in 2023 when he met with him last week.

He said, “I saw him last week; he didn’t tell me he is running for office and to the best of my knowledge the last statement he made on it is that people will know in January.”

Posters and billboards advertising the rumoured presidential bid of Tinubu, who is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been seen in major cities of the country including Lagos and Abuja.

A South-West Agenda 2023, a political movement mobilising support for Tinubu to contest the 2023 presidential election, was inaugurated in Lagos in October by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other APC chieftains.

But Tinubu, himself has yet to declare his intention to contest the office in 2023.

Fashola also said he had not asked Tinubu whether he is interested in the 2023 President or not. “I didn’t ask him. I just went to ask how he was doing. He has issued a statement that ‘I will speak in January, so let us wait till January”, he said.

Asked if he is interested in becoming the President of Nigeria, Fashola said, “It is a very tough responsibility, a very tough job. I don’t envy those who have held that office and I don’t envy those who aspire to take it as well.”

Asked whether he is speaking for any aspirant come 2023, the minister said, “As far as I am aware, nobody has said, ‘I want to be Nigeria’s President’. There are people speaking for people. Nobody has come out; we are not at that stage yet. I can venture out and say that I will speak for X or Y. Let the person come out and say, ‘I want to serve Nigeria’.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu on Saturday evening met with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State.

Tinubu reportedly arrived at the Abuja residence of the former Abia State governor at exactly 4:25pm.

Shortly after exchanging pleasantries, they were said to have gone into a closed-door meeting.

But the reason for the visit and what was discussed have not been disclosed.