Editor’s note: Governance is about continuity if there will be any meaningful development. The developmental feats achieved by Lagos state in the last few years is borne out of the fact that the successive governor consolidated on the achievements of his predecessor while the incumbent is also consolidating on the achievement of the last occupier of the seat.
In an article sent to NAIJ.com, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Epe Constituency II, Hon. Segun Olulade reveals why Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was able to achieve tremendously two years into his tenure.
Nothing affirms that a government is working better than when the masses who have no political interest do say “it’s a great moment for us”.
Truly, a working system is one that runs with ‘development’ as its PR. I guess that is called ‘working without making noise’. No doubt, administration of a state that accommodates roughly 26 million people is no small business. Obviously, the economic, socio-political and environmental challenges far outweigh system performance except the manager is a genius such as Akinwunmi Ambode.
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When tax payers’ money is working, the people are happy. Most importantly, the deployment of creative governance is sure indication that the governor is a global brand manager.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state
I came across a woman who got so emotional and I quote her verbatim: “If two years of Akinwunmi Ambode has ushered in development this much, I wonder how Lagos State will look like at the end of his tenure; and if we have him manage Lagos for a stretch of eight years, I think Lagos will compete favourably with modern cities around the world; and if not for constitutional matter, I feel that we need Ambode as a manager till he gets tired”.
Modern and high tech cities managers around the world are able to manage their cities successfully due to the presence of age-long existing institutional stability. Managing a mega city like Lagos in the developing country is a double task compared to the management of Tokyo in Japan or Bangkok in Thailand. Governor Ambode is not only well-schooled in modern city management, he is a ‘restless machine’ and something like a ‘bad system solution software’.
A commissioner once described Ambode as a ‘ghost’. He said if you were in a management meeting or consultation with governor Ambode till 3am and you go to have some rest for the day’s job, you will be surprised when your phone rings at 6am and it is the governor calling you to see him at 8am for a briefing.
“You get there only to meet a man looking so radiant behind executive chair, and you begin to wonder if he was the same man you departed with 3 hours ago after all-night meeting; he stays awake and full of energy, he speaks and looks into your eyes like a robot. He is super intelligent and remembers all details even after one year. If you are lazy or unintelligent, you cannot survive his standard”, he said.
Needless to start mentioning the feat of this administration under able leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the achievements are uncommon and evidence-based. No surprise ….said at a commissioning that Ojodu-Berger should rather be called Ojodu-Ambode; if you ask why, take a visit to Berger, go in-route Abule-Egba before a trip to Victoria Island and Ajah via Oshodi/Oeoronshoki axis; developments are obvious as you walk around the city.
Since governance is an all-round thing, every sector has been touched impressively. The monumental beautification that has engulfed strategic locations across the state is evidently of 21st century modern city management acumen.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the father of a modern Lagos. The innovations and modernisation achieved during Asiwaju’s administration propelled Lagos into its mega-city status and since then, that legacy of uncommon achievements in governance has remained evergreen and a model for successive administration in the State.
Evidently, the story of a 21st century compliance Lagos cannot complete without recourse to this enigma who doubles as father of a modern democracy in Nigeria today.
With exceptional management system, Lagos helped Nigeria survive during recession and is still a major factor that helped the nation out of the economic downturn. Statistics put Lagos at the edge of 60% of the total Nigeria’s economy. What a land of opportunity it is.
Looking at Lagos development plan of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, one cannot but be awe struck on the knowledge of the governor about hi-tech and modern cities around the world. The level of infrastructural growth seen in Lagos in just two years is amazing.
The human face of this government as it concerns the indigent is unequalled, whereas the micro-economic development through the Employment Trust Fund is surely a smart way to secure the State’s economy in centuries to come.
The elegance of the current administration is evident in the grandeur that greets the celebration of Lagos at 50. What is we see in the Lagos at 50 celebration is no less what is obtainable in the most cosmopolitan and modern cities of the world like Paris, Berlin, London or New York to mention a few. It is a celebration that brings every Lagosian to feel the State and its opulence in a joyous moment necessary for this period.
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Lagos in the year 2025 has long been projected to be among the 15 fastest growing cities in the world. But with the current pace of development, I see Lagos in year 2023 achieving this feat under able leadership of our amiable governor, no doubt.
Recently, it is difficult to believe that some pictures were actually taken in Lagos. A friend who lives in Europe was in doubt as to the originality of a photo of Ojota after the completion of that magnificent pedestrian bridge until he visited home to see by himself. With gradual return of night life, Lagos is wearing the colour of an ideal modern city.
The light-up-Lagos is bringing back the old Lagos that used to be beautiful and peaceful in the night; a city well secured and that which offered 24 hours city life and splendour. The Lekki Free Trade Zone project which is in its fastest mode will sure impel Lagos to double its economic returns from tourism and international business exchange.
What do the people need do? Well, the management of a moving community requires significant cooperation, collaboration and contributions with and from the residents. Lagos which offers equal opportunities for anyone to thrive sure deserves first hand concerns by everyone living in Lagos. Modern and mega cities around the world don’t discriminate; no city that discriminates ever grow into a model city.
As the current Mayor of London is a Pakistani background, his first and unalloyed loyalty is to the city that has given him all the opportunities in the world. In as much as it is acknowledged that every society has, and grows with its cultural postures, over bearing cultural system repels growth through inflow contributions from everyone benefiting from the natural blessings of the place.
After all we are all settlers at one point or the other; accommodating modern settlers and immigrants is in no way close to selling away our heritage and values, no!. What is important is to put in place an assimilation system that enables both locals and settlers to play their roles in the development of a place that offers its blessings to all. God made Lagos. It is a grace and blessing. Other States that turned 50 in Nigeria are also celebrating but in no match with what is going on presently in Lagos, that is a grace.
As Lagos indigene, it is a pride and honour to be acknowledged and respected by immigrants rather than a show-off and undue claim of ownership which is of course not in contention in the first place. The glory of Lagos is worth sharing and can go round the original owners of the land and our esteemed visitors and settlers.
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Lagos today is a city of hope, a place of honour, a land of opportunity, a society with class and one of the most prosperous place to live in the world. All hands must be on deck to move Lagos forward particularly with the emergence of a Governor that is changing infrastructural face of Lagos state on daily basis. Not only that, he is also using viable programmes to remodel citizens orientation for a living refined in love, peace, tranquillity, harmony and oneness.
As we celebrate our dear Lagos at 50, it is our joy to see Lagos which will become pride of place for all. For sure, Lagos is blessed and we are all blessed with its opulence.
Watch the NAIJ.com TV video report of the anti-corruption walk of the EFCC that held in Abuja recently.