On a day, former Vice president Atiku Abubakar came visiting to Lagos ,at an event at the Airport hotel lkeja to welcome the August visitor, l recall raising my hands to ask the then Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu of Lagos a direct and pointed Question,
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“Sir, Why did you choose Raji Babatunde Fashola amongst the pack of array of talents as the best man for the job?’
Ahmed Bola Tinubu went into a long narrative to explain the reasons why he zeroed in on Fashola. He said following the controversy that trailed the annulment of the June 12 1993 election, he ( Tinubu) and others were forced into premature exile. Given the circumstances that forced his exile,he assigned the management of his affairs including his assets and property to the firm of Kafaru Tinubu & co, legal practitioners, which in turn specifically assigned a counsel in the firm, Fashola to directly handle.
Tinubu said throughout his period in exile, Fashola managed his estate with uncommon professionalism, integrity and service delivery quality. Fashola took his instructions to dispose off some of his assets, and dutifully kept the proceeds in the designated client’s account without removing a kobo, not even his professional fees for the services.
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Tinubu said upon his return from exile, Fashola rendered a comprehensive account and handed over all the funds realised from the proceeds of his property back to him INTACT without removing a kobo. Tinubu said he asked Fashola, ” why have you not removed your professional fees for services rendered? Fashola shocked him by responding that he could not taken his professional fees since both parties were yet to agree on the applicable fees to be paid for the services.Tinubu said that development struck a chord in him about the honesty and integrity of Raji Babatunde Fashola.
Tinubu said when he became Governor, he appointed Alhaji Lai Mohammed as his Chief of staff. When Alhaji Lai Mohammed suddenly resigned to contest the Governorship of Kwara state, the need to find a suitable and reliable replacement arose. Tinubu said he remembered Raji Babatunde Fashola, the man who handled his affairs while in exile without blemish.He invited Fashola to assume the role.
Again, Fashola distinguished himself by rendering stellar services to the delight of all.
Therefore when at the end of his tenure, it was time for him ” to anoint a successor”, he had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that Fashola was the best man for the job.
Tinubu stuck to his choice to the anger of some of his associates who defected to other parties. Fashola went on to emerge as the party’s candidate in the primaries,contested the General election and won a popular election as Governor. Governor Fashola did his two terms as Governor of Lagos state and is generally acknowledged as one of the best things to happen to Lagos state. Fashola coined the phrase ” Eko oni baje . Obaje ti”. Laff.
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