A former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has advised citizens urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the separate political crises rocking Rivers State and Ondo State to take responsibility and not wait for the President.
Fashola who was Minister of Work during the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, said that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention is not needed in the current political matters tensions in Ondo and Rivers states.
According to him, the constitution doesn’t give room for the intervention being expected by some people.
“Does the Constitution assign a role to the President in this matter?” Fashola asked while speaking at the Nigerian Air Force Officers Mess Honourary Members Forum 2023 Annual Lecture held in Lagos on Saturday.
Despite calls for the president to get involved, Fashola said the constitution clearly outlines the proper procedures and roles of officials in such situations.
“Are those inviting the President to act in Ondo and in Rivers states not aware that the President has no constitutional role in these matters?” he asked.
Fashola went on to praise the “blue blood Ondo indigenes” who pushed for law and constitutionality in their state’s recent crisis before the governor’s letter restored calm.
“Happily, in our Ondo case, some blue-blood Ondo indigenes have stood up to be counted. But they are in an obvious minority,” he stated.
The former minister said that going forward, the “leadership in Rivers State” similarly needs to “do the needful” rather than pass responsibility.
Fashola argued that citizens must also “amend ourselves” and take accountability rather than improperly demanding presidential action.
“We have amended the constitution, so what is left to amend, except ourselves?” he concluded.
