Babatunde Raji Fashola, the minister of works and housing, has distanced himself from campaign posters bearing his name and photograph and that of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State as a presidential and vice-presidential candidate, respectively for the 2023 general elections.
Although, the posters currently making the wave in the social media just at the erstwhile Governor of Lagos denied to have anything to do with the promoters of the campaign materials under the aegis of Nigeria Project 2023.
Fashola in a rebuttal issued by his Special Adviser, Communications, Hakeem Bello, Sunday, September 26, 2021, in Abuja, said the groups promoting The Nigeria Project 2023 were unknown to him and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The minister explained further that his major focus now is to deliver on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari for an expanded and upgraded road transport infrastructure, and affordable housing nationwide in order to achieve economic growth and prosperity for the citizenry.
The statement reads; ”The Media Office of the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has urged well-meaning people to disregard the invitation of some Groups, operating under The Nigeria Project 2023, purportedly to the inauguration of a Support Group for the Minister and the Governor of Borno State over the 2023 elections.
”The social media was awash at the weekend with a poster from the Group allegedly presenting the Honorable Minister and the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum as Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates respectively of an unnamed political party.
”Ordinarily, the poster and the various social media reports almost instantly orchestrated on its account would have been ignored as the handiwork of mischief-makers. However, it became necessary to issue this disclaimer for two key reasons.
”The first of such was to answer with a strong negative to the numerous inquiries from right thinking and well-meaning Nigerians on whether the Honorable Minister had been contacted or if the Groups had his consent in issuing the invitation.
”Without equivocation, no individual or group has contacted the Honorable Minister for or on behalf of The Nigeria Project 2023. As Honorable Minister, Mr Fashola is currently focused on leading his dedicated Team in the Ministry of Works and Housing to deliver on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari for an expanded and upgraded road transport infrastructure; and affordable Housing nationwide in order to achieve economic growth and prosperity for the citizenry.
”Secondly, is the fact that entities unknown to a political party cannot present candidates on behalf of such a political party. As a ranking and loyal member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the individual and groups cited as promoters of The Nigeria Project 2023 are unknown to the APC and the Honorable Minister.
”Against the backdrop of the foregoing, the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN urges members of the public to be wary of the antics of unsolicited individuals and Support Groups whose real intentions remain questionable.
”Every support possible should be given to the efforts of the current administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver a better nation for all.”
