Fashola: I Have Tinubu’s Ears, Can’t Advise Him on Television

• Former Lagos governor says he has direct access to the President and prefers private counsel over public commentary, while also ruling out a presidential bid and backing state police.

Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has explained why he will not take to television to critique President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that his direct access to the President makes public commentary unnecessary and counterproductive. Fashola made the remarks during an interview on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines on Wednesday, where he was asked why he had largely refrained from commenting publicly on the President’s performance since leaving office. According to Fashola, President Tinubu regularly seeks his views on governance and areas requiring improvement as the administration prepares for the 2027 general elections. He disclosed that the President recently reached out to him directly, asking for candid advice on what his administration should improve ahead of the polls. “He calls me today, and he says, ‘Today, identify one area where my administration must improve as we count down to 2027. What would you advise me?’ So, I will speak to the President on TV? I’ve told myself I would not do that,” Fashola stated. The former minister emphasised that he values the private channel of communication he maintains with the President and believes direct engagement is more productive than public pronouncements. He noted that he had already offered advice to the President on several matters and intends to preserve that line of communication. “I have his ears, and when I need to see him, I’ve advised on a few things. I think that we must keep that channel open. It’s not my intention to advise him on television,” he said.

When pressed on whether the administration had developed any blind spots after three years in office, Fashola dismissed the suggestion, saying his access to the President made public criticism unnecessary. “There are no blind spots in this administration. You can’t be shouting at somebody whose ear you have,” he responded. The interviewer noted that many Nigerians had expected Fashola to become more outspoken on national issues after leaving public office, but the former Lagos governor maintained that his approach had not changed. He argued that public commentary from someone with direct access to the President would be counterproductive and could undermine the confidential relationship he values.

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Fashola also shut down speculation about his political future, ruling out any ambition to contest the presidency. Asked if he would run for president, he replied simply, “No.” When the interviewer pressed further, Fashola responded with a smile, “President of what? I’m president at home.” Reflecting on his public service career spanning more than two decades, Fashola described the opportunity to serve as an unimaginable privilege and expressed hope that his journey would inspire younger Nigerians to pursue public service. “My journey has been an unimaginable privilege, and I hope that it, in some way, inspires another generation about the possibilities of this country,” he said. He added that Nigeria continues to offer opportunities for those willing to strive, noting that the country has produced many stories of “rags to riches and grass to grace.” On how he hopes history will remember him, Fashola said he would leave that judgment to posterity: “Let history write whatever history wants to write. It is not in my place.”

The former governor declined to comment on long-standing speculation over whether he had favoured Obafemi Hamzat or Olasupo Sasore as his preferred successor ahead of the 2015 Lagos governorship election. Fashola confirmed that he remains a member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC) but stressed the need to distinguish between offering counsel and interfering in government affairs. “There is a thin line between intervention and interference,” he said.

Speaking on governance, Fashola stressed the need to preserve public confidence in the judiciary, warning that constant attacks on the courts could weaken democratic institutions. He also argued that a vibrant opposition is necessary for democracy to thrive, saying political disagreements should help improve governance rather than undermine the system. The former minister further highlighted the need for national consensus on critical issues such as taxation, foreign policy and legislative oversight, urging professionals and young Nigerians to participate more actively in shaping public policy. He reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, though he cautioned that it would not be an instant solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. On Lagos’ recurring flooding challenges, Fashola said the state’s coastal geography made flooding inevitable but manageable, adding that indiscriminate waste disposal continued to worsen the situation. He maintained that addressing the problem required cooperation between government and residents. Fashola also addressed the issue of fuel subsidy removal, describing it as a necessary but painful decision that would ultimately benefit the country in the long run. He urged Nigerians to exercise patience, noting that difficult reforms often take time to yield positive results. He also called for greater transparency in the management of the savings from subsidy removal.