National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday attended the cabinet retreat organised for members of the Lagos State executive council and permanent secretaries.
The appearance of the two former Lagos governors was aimed at boosting the morale of the cabinet members and to equally share experiences based on practical knowledge in the art of governance.
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Immediate past Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was not at the retreat organised to drive the programme of incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Mr Ambode is currently facing scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of abuse of office.
Speaking at the retreat, Tinubu, who served as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007, urged Sanwo-Olu and his team to make welfare of the people the cornerstone of the administration’s social development programmes.
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The APC chieftain reminded the cabinet members of the “difficult task” they had in hand but challenged them to deploy their expertise for the realization of the APC programmes for the state.
Administering the affairs of a society endowed in ethnic diversity, Tinubu pointed out, goes beyond possession of talent.
Character, he said, is key to the success of any leader at the helm of affairs of any multi-ethnic society.
The APC national leader observed that successive administrations in Lagos had been implementing a development master plan initiated by his administration, but he said the blueprint was not inflexible.
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He urged Sanwo-Olu and his team to tinker with the master plan in driving more development in the state.
Fashola, who spoke on personal perspective on leadership, saluted the courage of the commissioners and special advisers to accept the roles.
The minister said the appointees had signed up for “tough task’’, noting that their actions must prove their appointments were well-deserved.
Fashola said public office was created to solve problems facing the people and not to show off.
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Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the executive council, described Tinubu as a blessing to Africa, noting that the APC national leader’s leadership impacts transcended the continent.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who spoke earlier, noted that the new cabinet members had a rare opportunity of receiving hands-on training from two most experienced and highly qualified administrators in Tinubu and Fashola.
