Former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has ruled out contesting for presidency, saying he is content with his current role at home and would rather allow history to judge his public service.
Speaking during an interview on TVC on Wednesday, Fashola dismissed suggestions that he could join the presidential race.
When asked if he would contest for president, he replied, “No.”
Pressed further on whether he was considering the office of President of Nigeria, Fashola responded with a smile, “President of what? I’m president at home.”
Reflecting on his more than two decades in public service, the former minister described his journey as an extraordinary privilege.
“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 noted that Nigeria also has countless stories of people rising from humble beginnings to positions of prominence.
“Particularly because when we celebrate dreams across the Atlantic, our country is also a place where there are so many stories of rags to riches and grass to grace. I hope that it inspires another generation,” he said.
On how he hopes history will remember him, Fashola said he would not attempt to shape public perception.
“Let history write whatever history wants to write. It is not in my place,” he said.
The former Lagos governor also declined to reopen debates over who he preferred as his successor ahead of the 2015 governorship election.
When reminded of long-standing speculations about whether he favoured the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State and APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Kadri Hamzat, or former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Olasupo Sasore, Fashola refused to be drawn into the discussion.
