Why Fashola May Go Into Political Oblivion After 2015

Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, no doubt is rated as one of Nigeria’s best performing state helmsmen. His emergence as the state governor in 2007 brought a new lease of life to the infrastructural development of the aquatic state. He rehabilitated and constructed many roads while he also embarked on other societal goodies. Fashola has also won several awards from different organizations for his sterling performances.

However, despite all these performances, BRF may find it difficult to get any political post after his tenure as governor come 2015. What may lead him into political oblivion is in two folds. One is the fact that it is generally perceived that BRF has stepped on the toes of many Lagosians with majority of his laws seen as too harsh for the people to handle. A survey of public opinion conducted by Global News indicates that Lagos residents, most importantly okada riders, market men and women, artisans and even public servants are not down with the style of BRF. Hence, their resolve in ensuring that Fashola never gets any of their votes next time he is contesting for any other posts.

It is the general belief in Nigeria that when a state governor concludes his two terms, the next port of call for such governor is the senate where he can continue his political career. Now, if Fashola is aiming for the senate, then he has a lot to do to snatch the ticket from the incumbent senator in his constituency, the wife of the man that made him, Senator Remi Tinubu. This, of course, is a very difficult task as Asiwaju Tinubu would not want his wife to vacate the senate seat just like that. And if Fashola even gets the ticket, the puzzle remains how he is going to win without rigging as Lagosians are anxiously waiting for him to show him his unpopularity.