Raji Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing has dismissed suggestion that the presidential candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu is too old to be the president of Nigeria.
Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor, believed to be over 70 years old , is a frontrunner in next month’s presidential election. Other top runners in the February 25 poll are Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi of the PDP and Labour Party, LP, respectively.
Apart from Obi who just clocked 61, the other top candidates are above 70, which their critics say make them ineligible for the country’s top job after the incumbent exits office in May this year.
Speaking on TVC on Thursday, Fashola, a former Lagos Governor said Tinubu’s age should not be a constraint for him to be president, noting that in spite of his age he’s still better than other candidates who he said have no solid record to show from their public service.
Responding to a question on whether the APC pesidential candidate is the best person to occupy the Nigrian presidency, the minister said “I have no doubt about that.”
Fashola said he “worked with him for 14 hours everyday as his chief of staff,” and can testify to his capacity to rule the country .
“He’s much older now but when compared with what is obtainable on the other sides,” Tinubu is better.
The minister said Tinubu is being underrated by only mentioning his achievements as Lagos Governor, saying that his legacies in the area of Transportation, internal revenue etc have been replicated by many state governments in the country.
“All his policies have gained resonance among his utmost critics. Which among the other candidates have these records? Fashola said.
As governor of Lagos state, Fashola was almost dropped from running for a second term in office, following his alleged clash with Tinubu, who singlehandedly made him governor amidst protest by other parties leaders in the state the time.
Following the appointment of Fashola as Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, he was rumoured to have joined some hawks in the presidency who worked against Tinubu’s interests, to ensure that he did not get the APC ticket to vie for the presidency.
Fashola has since become one of the ardent supporter of Tinubu for the pesidency after the former Lagos helmsman declared his interest to run, and later won the APC presidential ticket.
“I will vote and campaign for him,” the minister said in today’s interview with TVC.
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