Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday rendered the account of his administration’s 2,600 days in office giving the credit of its achievements to the state’s public servants for their sacrifice which, according to him, has given his administration the confidence to report to the people every 100 days.
Fashola told the capacity crowd, consisting of past governors of the state, retired and serving public officers, members of the National and State Assemblies as well as members of the informal sector, at the LTV Blue Roof Multipurpose Hall venue of the event, that his administration has been consistent in reporting progress every hundred days because it does not want to take the peoples’ mandate for granted.
The Governor, who expressed joy that the government has consistently done this since inception, noted that the opposition controlled Federal Government’s attempt to imitate the programme ended up in a very big failure and embarrassment from which, according to him, they are yet to recover.
His words: “This is the 26th consecutive time we have done so. We do so because we do not take your mandate for granted. We do so because we are accountable and we value the feedback we get from you. 100 days looks like a long time. I can tell you that in government it is not long. This is because we come here every 100 days to report progress not stagnation.”
The governor also told the appreciative audience, “We are long distance runners because you inspire us. Our opponents have tried a very poor imitation of this programme and they have not recovered from the failure and embarrassment that it brought them. They cannot keep the pace that we keep.”
Fashola paid tribute to prominent citizens and residents of the state who passed on during the period such as a former Governor of the State, Sir Michael Otedola, the Olu of Ikeja and one of the Vice Chairmen of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Rauf Adeniyi Aremu Matemi, the first Director General of the Lagos Records and Archives Bureau, Mr. Bolaji Uthman and a legal luminary, Mr. Bamidele Aturu.
Calling for a one minute silence in respect of the departed, the Governor, who later prayed for the repose of their souls, added, “We valued the services and celebrate the contributions of these great Nigerians and many others who have left us. Our government continues to honour the memory and service of those who contribute to the development of our State.”
Fashola said as a demonstration of this commitment, his administration dedicated the Gbagada Housing Estate in honour of Late Baba Omojola and the new Alausa Park in honour of Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu on June 12 “for their heroic contributions “to our democratic development,” adding that government also dedicated the Iloro Housing Scheme in Agege in honour of Late Oba Lateef Adams “for his untiring role in seeking development for Agege and Lagos.”
Noting that government also honoured scores of its public servants during this year’s Public Service Week for their distinguished service, Fashola declared, “It is my hope that these pubic recognitions that are well deserved will inspire others to the virtue and values of public and selfless service.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Commissioner for information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, said although the Fashola administration is winding up its second term, that has not deterred it from carrying out its responsibilities to the people of the state, adding that the administration intends to keep up the tempo until the very last day in office.
He thanked Lagosians for keeping faith with the Fashola administration in the last seven years, adding that their faith has helped in no small way in boosting the efforts of the administration which, according to him, “has made Lagos a benchmark of good governance after which other states and governments seek to emulate.
Present at the well-attended occasion were members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, among others.
First Governor of the State, State Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd); and wife of the first civilian Governor of the State, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, members of the National Assembly representing the State, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon and Olorunimbe Mamora, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale, other prominent APC leaders including Chief Joe Igbokwe, Chief Kessington Adebutu, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other prominent residents of the State including market women and men as well as other top government functionaries.
