Conflict over roles All Progressive Congress The presidential candidate (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the wave of infrastructural transformation witnessed in Lagos State in the last two decades can now be included.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, set the record straight, saying that Mr. Tinubu was the brain behind the development master plan implemented by successive administrations in Lagos, which elevated governance in the State.
This, Mr. Sanwo-Olu said, is a fact that cannot be denied by anyone who worked with the former Lagos Governor from 1999 to 2007.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu was a special guest on Your View, a show on Television Continental (TVC), where he spoke about his government’s achievements, his re-election, family values and his relationship with the APC presidential candidate.
Lagos is believed to be a model of good governance, infrastructure renewal and innovation. The country recently made history as the first sub-national entity in Africa to complete a modern intra-city rail infrastructure without any federal budget allocation – a coveted achievement.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu said that Mr. Tinubu cannot be deprived of credit for the reforms that set the course for the infrastructure program delivered by his successor to transform Lagos into one of the largest economies in Africa.
The governor, who said his working relationship with Tinubu started in 2002, stressed that he was a living witness to the development of the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LASEEDS) under Tinubu’s leadership.
The LASEEDS document, Sanwo-Olu said, is aligned with the 10-point agenda document and is a precursor to the Lagos State Development Master Plan (LSDP) which originated from the Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti) initiated by the Tinubu administration.
He said: “It is with humility that I joined Mr. Tinubu’s government more than 20 years ago. I was a General Manager in a bank before I joined Tinubu in November 2002. From the first day of my appointment, I was in Tinubu’s cabinet and I saw that first hand.I am a living witness to the vision of development proposed by Tinubu.
“It’s not something we should be blabbing about; it’s a fact we all know. Under Tinubu’s leadership, we prepared documents called LASEEDS and SEEDS, which are economic development blueprints for Lagos. We also have what we call the 10-point agenda, which lays the foundation for generating income, reforming transport and renewing public infrastructure.
“LASEEDS and SEEDS documents are working on a blueprint for transformation in Lagos. We set up the Ehingbeti Economic Summit to run every year, where we gather input from the private sector and put it in a public document and produce an actionable working paper. I am the Commissioner for Planning and Budget Economy, so I was part of those who developed the document. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for example, is not just out of place; Tinubu set up LAMATA with the World Bank in 2002. I was part of the first flight of personnel who worked in LAMATA, which is one of the best transport agencies in the world.
“That’s how the blueprint was developed and we have a 20-year development plan, which was done by former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. He removed some things and changed them based on the reality of the time. Former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode did the same thing. Our government did the same thing, because there is continuity. We can look at the challenges of the previous government and decide on things that can be done quickly. Tinubu deserves credit because he was the one who was able to create the first group of very smart people who worked with him to develop a workable blueprint.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu dismissed speculation in some quarters that Mr. Tinubu has been running Lagos by proxy, saying that the former governor has since moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the last six years where he has contributed his quota to the national. development and building the ruling party.
The governor, however, said Mr. Tinubu’s experience in governance qualified him as the right person to ask advice regularly for direction.
“Tinubu is a father and a man that I respect personally. I can’t take that away. Critics always want to say something, but we keep our eyes on the ball? yes already. Are we doing what Lagosians want us to do? Yes,” said the Regent.
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Why Lagosians should believe in another mandate in the coming general elections, Mr. Sanwo-Olu said: “One of the strongest points of a leader is to make people look down on you. You don’t have to be in people’s faces to get the job done. You just have to roll roll up my sleeves and get the job done. Check my background, the integrity I stand by. As a bank teller, my word is always my guarantee. When I make a commitment, I keep it.
“It’s not just about me. It’s about the future and the legacy we have to leave behind. We keep faith with all the things that will be done on the TEMA agenda. With all the sense of responsibility, we have done it and won the trust of the people. Let’s join hands and in this train together.we can only imagine what will come in another four years.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR
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