When Babajide Sanwo-Olu stepped up to contest the APC governorship primary in Lagos State in 2018/9 he looked so different from the typical politician. No sense of entitlement, only duty, he ran a campaign so clean that even when he was attacked and literally insulted by then Governor Akin Ambode, he said no foul word in return. And, none, even after he won the primary and became governor. Such grace. It was clear then to perceptive Lagosians that Sanwo-olu was a different breed of politician. A technocrat in politics, he came prepared for the job. In almost four years since he became governor, the question is not whether he deserves a second term but what the next four years hold in stock for Lagosians, considering what he has made of his first term.
Sanwo-Olu has shown that he indeed was part of the team that laid the successful structure for Lagos state’s phenomenal performance in 1999, having served as Special Adviser in Governor Tinubu’s administration, commissioner in the succeeding government of Tunde Fashola, and as a parastatal head in Ambode’s administration. Having had a place in the administrations since 1999 he came with a deep understanding of having an open mind and a broad appreciation of the need for continuity, ensuring that projects for the needs of the people are followed through. That and more have influenced the pace of work in Sanwo-olu’s first term, a reason analysts believe that his re-election is a walk in the park.
At his administration’s 3rd year anniversary Thanksgiving Service, Governor Sanwo-Olu, said his administration has matched words with achievements. “Despite all the challenges faced in the recent past by this administration, we were able to record unprecedented achievements as far as the implementation of our THEMES agenda and other lofty programmes we promised Lagisians three years ago. We were able to match our words with achievements…We want more of your support as we approach 2023 general elections, which by the special grace of God, myself and Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, would be participating as governorship and deputy governorship candidates of our great party, All Progressive Party for another term of four years in office. By the grace of God, I assure all Lagosians that better times lie ahead.”
Indeed the Sanwo-Olu imprint is large in Lagos. In infrastructure, he has expanded the Lagos blue and red rail projects, ensuring that both would come into operation before his administration’s first term ends on May 29, 2023. He has finished some of the projects started by his predecessor, displaying a rare quality in public service in this part of the world where successors leave their predecessor’s uncompleted projects to rot away. This quality has been informed by the governor’s belief that public service should benefit the people. This is what spurred him to pick up the Lagos State rail projects which were abandoned by his predecessor. The State Government is not only doing rails, it has completed bridges, initiated new ones including the Opebi-Maryland road project to provide more alternatives for road users. It has also initiated the Lekki Airport project, which will provide air travel for the rapidly expanding industrial and residential axis of Lekki.This investment in intermodal modes of transportation involving roads, rail, air and waterways for which more jetties have been built are designed to boost public transportation in Lagos State.
The state’s social welfare programs are also very active. Initiated by the Sanwo-Olu administration, the state pays allowances of N40,000 monthly to 4000 unemployed graduates, including some direct gratification to widows. It supports small businesses and was very active and supportive in managing Nigeria’s COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and 2021.
Given these imprints it is no wonder that the last edition of Ehingbeti, the Lagos State Economic Summit was as much one to project the future as to celebrate the phenomenal achievements Sanwo-Olu, has boasted about the achievements of the state government.
Noting that the Summit since it was launched by then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu has produced tremendous results in working out and adapting the Lagos development roadmap, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that past editions of the summit recorded remarkable achievements such as: Commitment of State Legislature And Judiciary to Establish legal and Regulatory frameworks to promote Private Sector participation secured improved Urban Development, Economic growth and social responsibility through effective partnership. He also mentioned the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund; Establishment of export free trade zone and SME Hubs; Establishment of the Lagos Urban Transport Office, now known as LAMATA; Establishment of disaster Management Agency And Strengthened The Existing State Emergency Medical Services for risk mitigation.
Sanwo-Olu added that in the several months leading up to the event, his administration has made concerted efforts towards the “conceptualization and development of a comprehensive 30-year plan, the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, with the ambition of transforming Lagos into Africa’s Model Mega City.”
In his words: “The Lagos State Development Plan is built around 4 strategic pillars – Thriving Economy, Human-Centric City, Modern Infrastructure and Effective Governance – and focuses on 20 strategic areas that will drive this ambition.” According to him the long term-term development plan has been meticulously devised to accommodate the best of all existing and prior high-level policy documents, transformation plans and development policies, including the THEMES Agenda.
Obviously, with a program that has touched every part of the state, the APC team is confident of victory, despite the antics of the opposition. A clear testament to this reality is the endorsement it has received from the Igbo and Hausa communities in the state, in addition to its solid base among the indigenes. Buoyed by this position, Governor Sanwo-Olu is poised for the campaign.
At the closing of the Ehingbeti Summit on October 12, the Governor said: “Today is the day that INEC officially flags off campaigns for governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“There is no better time for me to do my official flag-off than at an economic summit like this, where we are talking about our city, our people and Greater Lagos. What we are talking about is real; people can feel and they can see it.
“Some people can come here to claim anything. They don’t even know what governance is all about. We have done a lot and people can feel it. People know this is a government that works for them.
“It is not about us; it is really to create that enabling environment for them (the citizens) to do well. “Lagos State has witnessed prosperity in the last three and half years even in the COVID environment and that is the trajectory in which we want to continue. Lagosians will truly understand what we are talking about,” he added.
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