I’ve Learnt From Fashola’s Failure As A Politician– Jandor

Lagos Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor has said he bore no grudge against  former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for describing him as a ‘mere cameraman’.

During the electioneering campaign, Fashola had described Jandor as a cameraman who lacked the experience to govern Lagos.

“I did that job for eight years. And part of what helped me was that I was chief of staff to a governor.I saw it up close but even then, that was not enough. So just following a governor, being a cameraman, watching me for eight years, you (Jandor) think you will now be a governor? You are not ready”.

However, speaking in an interview with Punch, Jandor said he never felt insulted by the statement made by the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing. He said while Fashola succeeded as an administrator, he failed as a politician and he has learnt a lot from that.

According to him, Fashola remains his boss anyday, irrespective of what happened during the election.

His words “It wasn’t an insult. He didn’t insult me actually, and I responded, only that I didn’t abuse him in my response. I just expressed worry that he gave in to pressure to call me what I am not, even though there is nothing wrong with being a cameraman”.

“But for me, I think he should rather be proud that somebody who was following him everywhere, even if that person is a cleaner, that such a person has grown to a point where they can say they want to run for that office. That should give any leader some joy; that he was able to inspire somebody who looked up to him for eight years and believed in himself that he could also aspire to that office”.

“I don’t think such a disparaging word should come from him but I have said in my response to him that he will always be my boss. I can’t rule out the fact that under his tutelage I was able to understand the nitty-gritty of governance and I was able to learn from his failure as a politician, not as an administrator, because he didn’t fail as an administrator. That prepared me to be able to fight and challenge the polity and do what I’m doing today”.

“ I have learnt a lot of things from him and I appreciate a lot of things from him too. I will say he gave in to pressure to have come out and say such at that time. However, I have nothing against him. It was politics. He’s my boss anytime, and anywhere I see him I will always prostrate to greet him”.