BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, 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 himself and the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, over the 2023 elections.
The social media was awash at the weekend with a poster from the group allegedly presenting Fashola and Zulum as presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively of an unnamed political party.
Fashola’s Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, who denounced the poster through a statement on Sunday, said, “Ordinarily, the poster and the various social media reports almost instantly orchestrated on its account would have been ignored as the handwork 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, Fashola is urging members of the public to be wary of the antics of unsolicited individuals and Support Groups whose real intentions remain questionable.
According to him, “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.”
