2027: Fashola Rules Out Presidential Ambition, Says ‘I’m President at Home’

Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has ruled out contesting the 2027 presidential election, dismissing speculation that he may seek the nation's highest political office.

Fashola made his position known during an interview on TVC on Wednesday when asked whether he was considering a presidential bid.

“No,” he replied.

When pressed for further clarification, the former governor responded jokingly:

“President of what? I'm president at home.”

Fashola said he regarded his years in public service as a privilege rather than a pathway to pursuing higher political office.

“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.

The former minister said Nigeria had produced numerous stories of individuals who rose from modest backgrounds to positions of national prominence, adding that his own experience should encourage young Nigerians to believe in the country's potential.

“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 added.

Asked how he wanted history to remember his time in public office, Fashola said that judgment should be left to future generations.

“Let history write whatever history wants to write. It is not in my place,” he said.

The former Lagos governor also declined to revisit controversies surrounding the selection of his successor ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

He similarly refused to comment on speculation linking him with either the current Lagos State Deputy Governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Kadri Hamzat, or former Lagos State Attorney-General, Olasupo Sasore.

Fashola, however, confirmed that he remains a member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council.

He explained that providing advice to the government should not be interpreted as interference in its affairs.

“There is a thin line between intervention and interference,” he said.

On Nigeria's democratic institutions, the former minister stressed the need to protect the judiciary from persistent attacks, warning that public confidence in the courts must be preserved.

He also advocated a strong and constructive opposition, saying democracy functions better when government policies are subjected to effective scrutiny and national debate.

Fashola called for broader national consensus on critical issues, including tax reforms, foreign policy and legislative oversight.

He further urged professionals and young Nigerians to become more actively involved in public policymaking and national development.

On the recurring flooding in Lagos, the former governor attributed the challenge partly to the state's coastal location but said the situation was worsened by indiscriminate disposal of refuse in drainage channels.

He said addressing the problem would require greater cooperation between the government and residents.

Commenting on President Bola Tinubu's administration, Fashola said the President remained the same person he had known before assuming office but now carried significantly greater responsibilities as the nation's leader.

The former minister also expressed support for the establishment of state police, while cautioning that the initiative should not be viewed as a single solution to Nigeria's complex security challenges.

Fashola, who served as Lagos governor from 2007 to 2015 before becoming Minister of Works, said his greatest reward in public life remained the opportunity to serve the country.

He reiterated that he had no intention of seeking another elective office, effectively putting to rest speculation about a possible 2027 presidential ambition.