Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said he prefers offering advice to President Bola Tinubu through private discussions rather than criticising his administration in public.
Fashola stated this during an interview on TVC News, explaining that his direct access to the President made it unnecessary to air his views on national television.
According to him, Tinubu regularly consults him on governance issues and seeks his opinion on areas requiring improvement as the administration moves towards the 2027 general elections.
The former minister said he had deliberately chosen not to discuss such matters publicly, insisting that confidential conversations with the President were more constructive.
"He can call me and ask which area I think his administration should improve on as we approach 2027. I will not go on television to give him that advice because I have resolved not to do so," Fashola said.
He added that he had already offered the President suggestions on several issues, stressing that maintaining direct communication was more beneficial than making public comments.
"I have access to him, and whenever necessary, I share my views with him. I believe that channel should remain open. It is not my intention to advise him through the media," he said.
Reacting to suggestions that the administration may have developed blind spots after nearly three years in office, Fashola dismissed the claim, saying his relationship with the President enabled him to raise concerns privately.
"There are no blind spots. You don't shout at someone whose ear you already have," he said.
Fashola also ruled out any ambition to contest Nigeria's presidency, saying he had no interest in seeking the office.
When asked if he would consider running for president in the future, he replied, "No," before jokingly adding, "President of what? I'm president at home."
The former Lagos governor also declined to comment on speculations surrounding the succession process that produced his successor in 2015.
He, however, reaffirmed his membership of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, noting that the body's responsibility is to offer guidance rather than interfere in government affairs.
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