I’ve no governorship ambition, says Fola Adeola

JULY 17, 2014 

former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Fola Adeola
| credits: instinctbusinessmag.com

A former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Fola Adeola, has said that at 60 he is too old to contest the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State.

He said those linking him with the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State were not representing his ambition well.

Adeola, a delegate in the National Conference, made the clarification in Abuja against the background of a recent report that he was “oiling the machinery of his campaign” to take over from Governor Ibikunle Amosun, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

He said, “I come from Ogun State and being a governor of Ogun State is a major job. For me, that was 20 years ago. Our country, Nigeria is in need of attention and there are so many things that are being done today. Ogun State does not fit into my consideration at all and I can only wish the incumbent and all other aspirants very well in their attempt to improve my state.

“I also believe that just like a man can serve his God without being a clergy, so can a man serve his state without being the governor. So much is happening there but it is not for me.

“I don’t know why the newspaper (not THE PUNCH), embarked on such speculation. This is the third time they will be writing about it. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. I told them the first time, I told them the second time and if they like, let them report it for the fourth time.

“I do not want to contest the governorship of Ogun State. That is not what I want to do now, it is not in my agenda this year and next year and it will never be on my agenda. If offered, I will say no, I will not ask for it and it is not what I want to do. People who do this job (of a governor) today in Nigeria are in their 40s. Not now that I am 60 years old.

“I don’t even want to speculate about those behind the publications, I have given you the answer. Becoming the governor of Ogun State is not in my agenda.”

Adeola was the running mate to the Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in the 2011 Presidential election.

He served as the Chairman of the National Pension Commission, following the promulgation into law of the Pension Bill by the National Assembly.