Encomium
Tax pointsman of Lagos State, Mr. Tunde Fowler has refuted the rumour in both social and political circles that he has tendered his resignation letter as the Executive Chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service to pursue his gubernatorial ambition.
Mr. Fowler, in a response to our text message wrote thus: “Not true and a public notice will be published on Wednesday, Mach 26, 2014. Thanks and best regards.”
He, however, did not respond to our second question which read thus: “Are you actually interested in the governorship seat of Lagos State in 2015 and is it true that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has indicated interest in you as the successor of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
Prior to his refutal, the social media had been replete with how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of APC and the godfather of Lagos politics had chosen him as the successor of Governor Raji Fashola because of his Christian background.
Those spreading the rumour are saying that Asiwaju Tinubu may have acceded to the clamour by Christians in Lagos State for a Christian governor in 2015.
A source close to ENCOMIUM Weekly confirmed the story of Asiwaju Tinubu being interested in Mr. Tunde Fowler as Fashola’s successor in 2015 but said, it did not have the approval of Fashola.
Mr. Fowler joined Lagos civil service in 2004, when he was appointed by Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as pioneer Permanent Secretary/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue. As a matter of fact, it was because of him that the entry age into the Lagos civil service was changed from 35 to 50.
Mr. Fowler came from the banking industry. He was later appointed the first Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), a position he is still holding up till now.
– TOLANI ABATTI
