Tinubu Rubbishes Reports Of Fight Between Him & Fashola, My Relationship With Him Is Intact

For a while now, I have noticed and read many published
political stories on Lagos politics in particular and the personalities
involved that are either concerted, unsubstantiated, pure conjectures or
outright falsehood. In this instance, I reference a recent story ran by a major
newspaper concerning my successor and me. There is no doubt political
charlatans and enemies are at work fueling unnecessary rumour and insinuations
and seeking to drive a wedge in an otherwise cordial and respectful political
relationship. My relationship with Governor Fashola remains cordial both at the
personal level and at the level of commitment to ensuring Lagos State remains
on the path of political stability, growth and development.

Whether Governor Fashola had a specific candidate or not
isn’t the issue here. What is important is to have a transparent process in the
spirit of democracy to which we both subscribe. 
We often debate, agree or  disagree.
But when it comes to concluding on the interest of Lagos State, we are on the
same page. The current situation and issues around the Lagos Gubernatorial
primary are being overblown. What we have done is ensure that no one is denied
his or her rights to participate and compete for any elective position. Such a
disposition should not translate into anger and divisiveness of the party as it
is being peddled. Conflicts and disagreements is part of every political
process. The capacity to solve these conflicts in-house and not on the pages of
newspaper is a tradition in Lagos.

We warn the people of Lagos state against speculative,
self-serving stories aimed at destabilizing the party and its leadership. The
media must be weary of accepting or publishing stories that seek to pursue a
narrow political agenda. Rather, they should make their paper a platform for
proper news dissemination and constructive analysis such that can help our
country tackle the current security problem, create jobs.

While we appreciate, recognize and respect the right of
every media house to publish any story, it is important not to be part of the
feeding frenzy and not to mislead the unsuspecting public.

At my age and with my level of political experience, I am
expected to seek for solutions, work for reconciliations and find a common
ground where disagreements exist. That is what I have dedicated myself to in
the larger interest of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. That is what Governor
Babatunde Fashola and myself are about. That is what Lagos state deserves as
Nigeria’s pacesetter in terms of democracy and development.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu