Minister of Works and Housing and ex-Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has disclosed that he’s unlikely to be named President-elect Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
Fashola’s name for the position has been making the rounds in the social media space alongside House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Sports Minister Sunday Dare, among others.
However, Fashola told Seun Okinbaloye of ChannelsTV that it’s “unlikely” that he will be chosen as Chief of Staff to the incoming President as is being widely speculated.
He also said it is ridiculous and farcical for Nigerians to be speculating about the cabinet picks of an incoming administration on social media.
“Let’s get serious. We need to stop this thing we do on social media. It makes us look like a joke and an unserious people. Let’s allow the new person (liberty) to choose his team,” Fashola scolded.
There have been concerns about Tinubu’s whereabouts and the state of his health. According to Fashola, however, Tinubu is fine and is as fit as a fiddle.
Fashola said he spoke to the President-elect a week ago.
He also said the President-elect is well within his rights to have a vacation abroad after a gruelling electioneering campaign that was a “marathon and a sprint.”
The minister also warned those who will work with Tinubu to realise that he drives his team hard, encroaches in their spaces and is quite nocturnal.
Fashola compared President Buhari to a football coach who prepares his team and lets his team do the playing on the pitch; and Tinubu to a football coach who prepares his team and plays the game with them, while being visibly animated on the touchline.
According to Fashola, President Buhari has never interfered in his ministry since he handed him the job eight years ago.
Tinubu, he says, is a different kettle of fish because he micro-manages.
Fashola was Tinubu’s Chief of Staff whilst the latter was Governor of Lagos. He succeeded Tinubu as Lagos Governor in 2007.