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Tag: Ambode

  • Ambode, PPP model and yuletide season

    The Christmas/ New Year season is celebrated all over the world in a variety of ways. Various people view the season from diverse perspectives. While some see it as time to take stock and strategise for the coming year, others see it as the ideal time for vacation, socialization, merry making and partying.

    In most major cities of the world, socio-economic activities take place around the time at a heightened tempo. This is especially true of cities that operate a 24-hour socio-economic system. New trends noticeable in major cosmopolitan cities across the world point to a shift in the revival of night life as a strategy to tapping the socio-economic potentials of the Yuletide season. The hospitality and entertainment industries, in particular, thrive during the period.

    In Lagos State, the season has often been celebrated in a unique style. Some of the basic features of the festivity include special Christmas decorations across selected locations in the metropolis as well as the annual Lagos Countdown. The beauty and sheer razzmatazz of the Christmas decorations, in some way, add colour and grandeur to the whole season as the locations inadvertently become tourists’ centres of sort. As for the Lagos Countdown, the annual ritual with which the state government ushers in the New Year, the exhilarating setting is better seen than imagined. The economy of the state, during the period, receives tremendous boost as demands for all manners of services and products are often at an all time high.

    It is, therefore, in a bid to continue and improve on this laudable tradition that the Ambode administration has stepped up plans to make the celebration of this year’s Yuletide season an unforgettable experience for Lagosians. Top on the bill is ‘Operation Light up Lagos’ which is a comprehensive programme aimed at ensuring the illumination of major roads in the state before the end of the year. The light up exercise covers the five divisions in the state. Some of the areas being lit up include Martins Street/Ereko, Brook Street, Lagos Island, Olowookere Street, Alimosho, Old Ota road, Alimosho,  Cemetery road, Badagry, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria island, Babatunde Anjous, Eti-Osa, Itire road, Surulere, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Coker street, Ilupeju, Apapa- Oshodi expressway,  Gbagada by Charly Boy Bus Stop, Lagos-Ibadan expressway by Berger bus stop to Third Mainland Bridge among others. The long term plan is to light up major highways/roads in the state. The ultimate target is to have a safe and secured Lagos that operates a 24/7 economy.

    Similarly, the scope of the Lagos Countdown has been expanded from a single location event at Bar Beach to hold concurrently in the five major divisions of the state. This will see Lagosians gather in Ikeja, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and the Lagos Island for the annual countdown which will be beamed live to a global audience. The idea is to ensure that no part of the state is excluded from this year’s celebration. It is in fulfillment of Governor Ambode’s pledge to run an all inclusive government in which every segment of the society is not left out in the scheme of things.

    Improved security is also an integral part of the Ambode administration’s Yuletide deal for Lagosians. The recent donation of security equipment worth billions of naira to the state Police Command by the administration is part of a holistic plan to keep the state safe and secured. Lagos residents could, therefore, make big plans for the season and beyond as the state government has empowered men and officers of the Police Command to secure lives and properties in the state.

    Considering the prevailing economic situation across the country, the administration has sought and gotten the sponsorship of some notable banks and corporate firms to decorate prominent locations across the state throughout the season. Hence, more money could now be devoted to infrastructure development and other key programmes of the government Thus, locations such as Falomo roundabout, Ikoyi, Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Outer and inner Marina, Mobolaji Johnson Way, Alausa, Ikeja Eric Moore Surulere, among others, would be decorated with the assistance of organisations such as Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Messrs Kiosque Vegetal and Grand Square pads among others. This would be done at no cost, whatsoever, to the state government.

    This is in furtherance of one of one the policies of the administration to partner with the private sector and other stakeholders to sustain the state’s environmental regeneration and greenery programme.  It will be recalled that at a recently organized Greening Stakeholders Forum for the private sector at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, sought the support of the private sector to partner with the state government in sustaining its greenery programmes. This support and collaboration of private sectors is seen as significant in view of the fact that only 73 out of over 300 parks and gardens, representing 23%, are being maintained by private companies.

    It is, therefore, heartwarming to see that the dividend of the forum is already being manifested through the support and collaborative effort evidenced in the private sector support that has, thus far, been received for the Christmas streets decoration project. It is the conviction of the Ambode administration that the responsibility to restore the glory and beauty of the Lagos environment is a collective one as it is apparent that the government cannot do it alone. Consequently, more corporate bodies need to take environmental projects as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.

    It has been realised by governments world-wide that funding of all government programmes and projects can no longer be sustained by the government alone as evidenced in the global economic recession and decline in oil revenue. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a contractual relationship between the private and public interest as a systematic collaboration geared towards ensuring communal, state or national socio-economic development that is comprehensive and self-sustaining. It is an arrangement with clear direction and defined roles and responsibilities of all the actors in the plan. PPP is a financial module designed to attract private investors to engage in infrastructural projects with short and long term benefits to the people.

    In adopting this strategy, government is not abdicating its responsibilities but essentially releasing scarce resources for other equally important projects thus creating a win-win situation for the government and the private enterprise as well. The major advantage of the involvement of the private sector in governance is the efficiency it brings to project management. The issue of wastes, delayed delivery and abandonment that is usually associated with public projects is highly minimized. This is as a result of the optimization of the returns on huge investment of the private sector.

    Meanwhile, Lagosians are encouraged to take advantage of the various platforms that the state government has put in place to make the season a pleasant and joyous one. They are, however, advised to be moderate in all they do and pay critical attention to all routine safety and security measures especially with regards to harmattan haze, storing of petroleum products at home and careless use of fireworks. To have a memorable Yuletide season, we must avoid everything that could trigger avoidable fire outbreaks or threaten public peace.

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.
  • Ambode restates commitment to rule of law

    Ambode restates commitment to rule of law

    •Creates online platform for state laws

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the rule of law, saying the government is considering launching an online platform where people from any part of the world can access the laws enacted by the state since 1967 till date.

    The governor said this at the formal launch of Laws of Lagos State (2015), adding that the online platform would not only enable investors and would-be investors to make informed decision about investing in the state, but would also help them to appreciate the various legal protections available.

    He said the Law Reform Commission was saddled with developing the online platform, adding that the development was geared towards promoting a platform for accountability and responsibility.

    “From the online platform, people from any part of the world can easily access and download all the laws in the state since inception in 1967,” the governor said.

    The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said the government embarked on aggressive and extensive law reform because of the need to avail the citizenry the opportunity of being properly guided and informed through the laws.

    He said a prominent feature of the 2015 laws is that textual amendments of archaic and colloquial words have been replaced with other words for simplicity and clarity of meaning.

    “Words such as ‘therewith’, ‘therein’, ‘herewith’, ‘hereto’, ‘hereinafter’ and words of like nature where appropriate have been simplified. Gender specific pronouns were replaced with gender-neutral language.

    “Furthermore, obsolete references to military, colonial, imperial or legal orders, offices or institutions have also been substituted with contemporary offices and institutions,” Kazeem said.

    The Managing Director of Thomson Reuters in Africa, Sneha Shah, lauded the Law Reform Commission for coming up with great content that was published by her organisation.

  • Lagos Assembly confirms Odukale as LSSTF board chairman

    Lagos Assembly confirms Odukale as LSSTF board chairman

    Lagos state House of Assembly Tuesday confirmed Governor Ambode’s nominee for the position of the Chairman of the Board of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr Oye Hassan Odukale.

    In his response during the confirmation exercise, Mr. Odukale, said that he was surprised that he was nominated for the position by the Governor.

    Odukale, who is currently the Managing Director of Leadway Assurance Plc, said that his motive is to raise money for the fund through the private sector and that his company has contributed immensely to the fund in the past.

    According to him, the board of LSSTF has eight members, and the fund is meant to equip all security agencies such as the police, army and the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

    “There must be due process with verifiable estimate. We will raise money for the fund through the private sector and the equipment must be properly managed and we will cross-check with the users.

    “It is a volunteer work for me to raise money for the state through my network and those of others on the board. We need to win the trust of the people that are contributing to the fund and widen the net of the contribution,” he added.

  • Ambode’s gesture to police must not be in vain

    SIR: Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State was recently reported in the media to have said the N18, 000 minimum wage currently being paid to Nigerian worker is not sustainable. The underlying message of that assertion should not be lost on Nigerians, especially the working class. When one takes into consideration that most states rely on bail-out funds as lifelines before they could meet their different obligations to employees and citizens, it only signposts that tough days are ahead.

    If at this tough period when many states are gasping for breath and seeking loans to continue to exist, any state could, in collaboration with the organized private sector deploy massive funds to procure equipments towards improving security of life and property of its citizens, then such a state must be a ‘super’ state.

    Lagos, therefore, can lay claim to be a super state with its latest gesture in security.

    To any observer of the array of equipment and hardware that had been assembled at the open field of the Lagos House, Ikeja for presentation to the Lagos State Police Command by the State Government through the State Security Trust Fund, this was indeed a very audacious statement about the readiness to keep criminals at bay in Lagos.

    A closer look at the different equipments would reveal that they have been carefully selected and deliberately chosen towards tackling the wave of crime and plugging the several loopholes which armed robbers have until now exploited to unleash terror on residents of the State.

    Now, the question that agitated the minds of many is how this latest gesture from the Centre of Excellence would not be in vain. This is against the backdrop that in times past the Police Command in the state has enjoyed the support of previous administrations in terms of moral and material donations towards improving the performance of the Police.

    On several occasions, motorbikes, pick-up vans, cars and gunboats have been procured and distributed to operatives of security agencies in Lagos to help tackle crime frontally but the activities of some of them have left much to be desired. Even in the Lagos metropolis, many policemen on motorbikes patrols are more concerned with looking for motorists operating mobile phones while driving rather than being on red alert for daredevil traffic robbers.

    The hope of most Lagosians is that the new cars and vans would not end up becoming official cars for some superior police officers who have not had the benefit of getting officials cars or vans befitting their status and offices allocated to them. The state government must also continue with its arrangement of hiring professional drivers to drive the vans and cars as distinct from the officers who would be saddled with the task of confronting criminals. One can just imagine a situation where a rifle-wielding policeman is also the one driving, manipulating the gear with one hand and corking the gun with one hand while responding to attacks from bandits. The result in such a situation is better imagined.

    Nevertheless, the least expected from members of the public to encourage law enforcement agents by showing courtesy and encouraging them with kind words on the very delicate and dangerous job that they have signed up to do, rather than being unnecessarily aggressive when stopped by security agents. If the average policemen on the street or patrol realizes that members of the public appreciates what he is doing in terms of putting his life at risk to secure everyone, he is most likely going to be a better policeman. He would be one who does his job with a high level of professionalism and would go the extra mile to ensure that every resident of the state can go to sleep with their two eyes closed.

     

    Kunle Adeshina

    Alausa, Ikeja

  • APC chieftains lauds Ambode on N4.8 bn equipment

    APC chieftains lauds Ambode on N4.8 bn equipment

    A former Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government in Lagos, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, has described the donation of security equipment worth about N4.8bn to the Lagos Police Command by the state government as worthwhile, considering the several gadgets procured with the sum.

    Adewale said it was highly commendable that the governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, brought his accounting acumen to bear in acquiring several gadgets with such amount, adding that the development had truly announced the governor as a good manager of resources.

    He said: “What catches my fancy was the amount of money expended on the project going to about N4.8bn used in purchase of three helicopters, gunboats, armored personnel carriers, saloon vehicles, utility vehicles, power bikes and so many other gadgets including drones. It is a very good thing and a very conservative expenditure and I can say that the Governor should be commended for such amount to be utilized for that amount of materials. It’s a lovely expenditure.”

    Also speaking, former Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Teju Philips said with the development, Governor Ambode has met the expectation of Lagos residents on security.

    “There has been panic about security of lives and property and for me, I believe that the huge investment will go a long way to gear up the level of security awareness that the government is creating for the people,” she said.

  • Beyond Ambode’s donation to police

    SIR: In a bid to combat crime, Lagos State government magnanimously donated 100 4-door salon cars, 55 Ford Ranger pick-ups, 10 Toyota land cruiser pick-ups, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 power bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gun boats, 15 armoured personnel carriers to the Rapid Response Squad and the  Nigeria Police Force. I must appreciate the efforts of the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who has proven that he is aware of the state of security in Lagos. However, this donation is one of the endless donations to the police since they have become the biggest target for Corporate Social Responsibility.

    There are many organizations that keep donating to the Nigeria Police but we rarely see the job done by these vehicles. These vehicles are stationed at various parts of the state for some weeks after it has been given, noticed for a while, thereafter, they varnish from the streets.

    The operations in which these vehicles operate at optimum level are illegal operations such as roadblocks when people would be forcefully demanded of cash. Or when they ply one-way for no ‘emergency reason’ under the mindset that they are above the law or when they chase after a vehicle overloaded with goods.

    In this country, the vehicles used by the Nigeria Police Force are the mostly scruffy; let’s think of the various vehicles of the police that we see on the streets. One of the many questions beginning for an answer is, ‘where are the older vehicles donated to RRS and the Police?’ Yes, the rate at which a vehicle deteriorates is fast but the depreciation depends on the maintenance of these vehicles. This was stated by the Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau, the representative of President Muhammadu Buahari at the event. Another question to think about is, ‘Who is responsible for the maintenance of these vehicles?

    In this country, it is only the vehicles of the Police that cannot be auctioned. The Nigeria Police need to use these vehicles in a civil way. There are a lot of mechanic villages in and around town where these vehicles are abandoned after the reckless use by men of the Police Force. This reflects the level to which government vehicles are ‘nobody’s vehicles’. Many vehicles belonging to government agencies and parastatals are in the garages of retired civil servants while those currently in service carry out their official duties on foot. Policemen are not known to be that reckless with their personal cars.

    There is a need for strict monitoring of the vehicle and the users. This will help to curb the abuses of these vehicles. Telecommunications companies can offer to ‘donate’ as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility car tracking devices for effective monitoring just like that they do to their fleet. Fleet monitoring will checkmate the excesses of these officers in the delivery of their statutory roles.

    The Police Force and Rapid Response Squad should use these vehicles conscientiously so that the citizenry can have a good story to tell of these donations from taxes of Lagosians. Henceforth, taxpayers should be able to enjoy their hard-earned wages without the fear of criminals either on the road or in the comfort of their houses.

     

    • Olutayo Irantiola

    peodavies@gmail.com

  • Ambode’s red card to criminals

    If there had been doubts about Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s policy to rid Lagos State of Criminals, such was laid to rest on Friday, November 27. For Ambode’s critics who have unfairly concluded he has no answer to the security challenges in the state, they have been proved wrong by the presentation of various security vehicles and equipment to the police to combat crime.

    Here is a checklist of the N4.8billion worth of vehicles and equipment handed over to the police by Governor Ambode; 100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 power bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gunboats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, revolving lights, siren and public address system, vehicular radio communicators, security gadgets including bullet proof vests, helmets, handcuffs, etc, uniforms, kits and improved insurance and death benefit schemes for officers.

    The above is a comprehensive package geared towards fighting crime in Lagos. While we cannot deny the fact that there was an upsurge of crime in Lagos in recent times after Ambode had hardly settled down as Governor, it is unfair to conclude that he is not doing anything about it. We should take cognisance of the fact that policing a city-state like Lagos can’t be a tea party.

    It indeed, involves huge investment in security equipment in assisting the police to effectively police the city. While we all know that previous governments also committed huge resources in assisting the police in the area of equipment, logistic and training, we should not forget that this gesture must be continuous for the police to remain focused and active in combating crime.

    There is no doubt that most of the vehicles that were bought for the police in the past had become unserviceable; many of the equipment have either become outdated or faulty, gadgets have become faulty or obsolete. This means that these must be replenished and modern equipment must be provided for the police.

    What Ambode has done is to restore confidence in Lagosians that their safety as well as that of their property is assured. It is also a red card to criminals who have devised new ways of making life hellish for Lagos residents. These criminals suddenly found it easier to rob unchallenged inside traffic gridlock while they have also discovered that waterways have provided a shield for their nefarious activities. But the criminals who I am sure would watch the presentation ceremony which was televised live, would have had a rethink by now.

    The power bikes would come handy in apprehending traffic robbers while the helicopters would be used for surveillance and transmission of information to the security agents on ground. The gunboats will no doubt put the fear of God into the creek robbers who rely on speed boats to get away after robbing their victims. Helicopters and gunboats will put these creek robbers in check. Bank robbers will also have a rethink as the Armoured Personnel Carriers will be deployed at short notice.

    I cannot agree less with the Minister of the Interior, Lt Gen Abduraman Dambassau, who represented President Buhari at the occasion, when he called on men of the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the equipment is preserved through diligent maintenance culture in order to justify the huge resources expended. The Inspector -General of Police, Solomon Arase who was also at the occasion was so impressed that he made a promise on behalf of his men that they will be more alive to their responsibilities with the new vehicles, equipment and gadgets presented by the state government because to whom much is given, much is expected. Ambode did not stop at providing vehicles and gadgets, he also provided for the welfare and insurance of men and officers of the police.

    The involvement of the police high command and the Minister of Interior in the effort to combat crime in Lagos State underscores Ambode’s determination to confront the security challenges of Lagos State head-on as a team player who believes that the issue of security involves all critical stakeholders. The minister, who represented President Mohammadu Buhari, was so fascinated with Ambode’s gesture that he enjoined other governors to emulate him.

    The first thing that comes to the mind of an average Lagosian with the display of the sophisticated equipment and weapons is psychological relief that alas, we can sleep with our eyes closed. There will be no more excuses on the part of the police that there is no patrol vehicle, no bullet proof vest, no gunboat to combat waterways robbers etc.

    The new items presented to the police have started yielding results as the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni has increased the police presence at dark spots in the state from about 165 locations to over 200 by adding an additional 85 or thereabout. This is possible because of the new vehicles and gadgets.

    Apart from the vehicles and equipment presented to the police, Ambode still has a lot of job to do in terms of easing the traffic gridlock in the state which gave the robbers the chance to operate in the first place. While Lagosians have noticed a tremendous improvement in the traffic gridlock in the state in recent times due to the collaborative effort of the various drivers’ unions who are now Special Traffic Marshals and the enforcement of traffic rules, the situation could still be better if this tempo is maintained. Little wonder he told the police authorities that Lagosians would no longer accept any excuses after the huge investment his government has committed on the vehicles, equipment, gadgets, training and their  insurance.

    What Ambode has done is to take the security agents to the public court and tell them that he has played his own part leaving the rest to the police. This is the best way to go as the whole world now shift attention on how the security agents utilise the items presented to them to the benefit of the general public. As the chief security officer of the state on whose table the buck stops, Ambode has demonstrated that he is in charge and on top of the security situation in the state. Be that as it may, the Federal Government whose responsibility it is to kit and supply equipment and gadget to the police should not abandon this role to state governments. If Lagos State government is buoyant to invest such a colossal sum on the police, what of other states that are not so buoyant but with security challenges?

    As Lagosians basked in the euphoria of the new equipment and gadgets presented to the police to secure them and their property, we hope the police will reciprocate the gesture as promised by the Inspector-General of Police by chasing the criminals out thereby making the state and secured.

    • Afolabi writes from Surulere.
  • Ambode hailed on education

    Ambode hailed on education

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been hailed for prioritising educational development.

    The General Overseer of Upper Room Baptist Church, Alapere-Ketu, Lagos, Pastor Oluleke Akinola,  who spoke at the 2015 Excellence Award Ceremony for public secondary schools in Kosofe Zone Education District 2, said Lagos State government’s efforts in the education sector should be acknowledged.

    He said: “We have no doubt that Governor Ambode will take education to a greater height, considering his pedigree.

    “Government alone cannot bring about the kind of society we desire. We, therefore, must support it. Upper Room Baptist Church has decided to encourage youths, the leaders of tomorrow, to embrace industry, diligence and uprightness in the pursuit of life goals. This is why we are holding the second edition of the excellence award ceremony, which was established in 2012 during the 25th anniversary of this church.”

    Pastor Akinola said the purpose of the award was to acknowledgae, recognize and reward annually, good performance in public secondary schools in Kosofe Zone Education District 2 in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    He said the award was a corporate social responsibility programme, “which we believe will encourage hard work among pupils, teachers and head teachers.”

    Governor Ambode, represented by Mrs. Margaret Titilayo Solarin, the tutor-general/permanent secretary, Lagos State Education District 2, praised Pastor Akinola and Upper Room Baptist Church for touching lives, “as the government cannot do it alone.”

    He urged Lagosians to pay their taxes so that the government would have enough money to provide the dividends of democracy.

    Awards were given in four categories, namely ‘Overall best three pupils’; ‘Best teacher in English language, Mathematics, Economics and Biology;’ ‘Best three head teachers’ and ‘Overall best three schools’.

     

  • How to promote ethical rebirth, by Ambode

    How to promote ethical rebirth, by Ambode

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged residents to shun unethical practice in the interest of Lagos State’s socio-economic well-being.

    Ambode, represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Kehinde Joseph, spoke yesterday at a Forum/Health Screening organised by Iyalode of Lagos Chief Bintu-Fatima Tinubu.

    Its theme was: “Improving the ethical standard of the citizenry in Lagos State.”

    The governor said attitudinal change would aid the state’s development.

    According to him, the Office of Civic Engagement was created to engage people on attitudinal change and public civility to sustain peace and foster ethical rebirth.

    He said his administration would re-awaken good public conduct and moral rebirth.

    Ambode urged the people to spread the message and encourage public civility and good moral conduct.

    Iyalode Tinubu said she was motivated by the desire to see a better Nigeria.

    “The theme is aimed at curbing all sorts of illicit act from our society, such as, cultism, rape, examination malpractices, indecent dressing, prostitution, sexual harassment, drug abuse, insurgency, ritual killings, kidnappings, terrorism, just to mention a few,” she said.

    She urged the government to act on public complaints, saying: “It is important that ears are given to complaints because it is when people feel comfortable that their voices will be heard and problems rectified, they will speak out more. There must be follow- up so that these standards will be taken seriously,” she said.

    Former Deputy Governor Chief Sinatu Ojikutu blamed leaders for the society’s decay, saying: “When the head is rotten, the bottom cannot be good; as time went by, it became anything goes. The short cut to wealth syndrome is destroying the moral fabric of the society. Now, it doesn’t matter the way you make money as long as you have it. This breeds indecent act in the society.”

    She attributed youth restiveness and girls’ waywardness to parents’ indiscipline.

    “Mothers do not stay at home again to look after the children, leaving their responsibilities to housemaids who know nothing. Nobody corrects the kids when they exhibit immoral acts,” she said.

    A renowned industrialist, Chief Kessington Adebutu, said Lagos of today is different from that of yesteryear.

    “In our younger days, you moved freely in the day and at night without being harassed or robbed unlike today which is not safe. The youths of these days don’t want to crawl before walking; they are too much in haste,” he said.

    The Asoju Oba of Lagos urged government to create more jobs through vocational centres to keep youngsters off the road.

    Other speakers at the event were Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule, represented by Education District VI Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Mrs Amidat Anifowoshe; former Commissioner for Justice Alhaja Muyibat Wonu Folami and Dr David Aworawo of the University of Lagos.

     

  • With Ambode, Lagos is in good hands

    With Ambode, Lagos is in good hands

    In recent time, there have been lots of hues and cries about the course Lagos is charting under the less than six months leadership of Akinwumi Ambode as governor.  While some analysts and commentators have been quite understanding and considerate, some others have passed damning verdicts on the administration and even in the extreme, demand his resignation.

    Indeed, many have gone short of arguing that the governor doesn’t possess what it requires to steer the ship of the Centre of Excellence to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.

    Much of these criticisms have been premised on recent breaches in the security and traffic controls across the state. It is alleged that Ambode’s decision to embrace civility by relaxing enforcement, and relying more on persuasion in traffic management was responsible for the new chaotic traffic condition in the state. Another thread that became noticeable in the whole of the anti-Ambode tirade is to compare him with his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

    My evaluation of these scenarios is that most commentators have been rather harsh and unfair instead of sharing an understanding of the perception of the new Lagos helmsman on governance. The fact that the former governor, Fashola, his predecessor, adopted stern postures and measures in his approach to governance does not mean that is what must obtain forever, and that subsequent administrations must toe the same path.

    Fashola surely had his reasons for adopting stern measures as a shock therapy to stem the rate of recklessness and lawless in the public space. Fine, his approach yielded impressive outcomes. However, tough measures are only used in the short term to drive a consciousness that would make the people embrace a culture of order and decency. It has to be phased out overtime.

    Ambode for one made it clear from the outset that he was going to run an all-inclusive government that departs from his predecessor in terms of style. His idea of an all-inclusive government is one in which “no one or segment of the society, irrespective of colours, race, faith, status; ability or disability is left behind.” His philosophy is that for democracy to truly remain the government of the people, by the people and for the people, the active involvement of the people in governance must always be constantly encouraged and, indeed, deliberately courted. This is because the citizens are the bedrock of democracy. This explains why Ambode has never derided himself of having the monopoly of knowledge with regards to finding the right solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the state.

    Curiously, this development goes a long way to underscore the complexity of the human nature, and it simply explains what has always made the study of man and his society an interesting subject of study. It is the same people that accused Fashola of running a dictatorial, aloof and elitist government that are seeking the head of his successor for transiting onto a more open and considerate mode of public engagement.

    No two individuals are the same. Ambode is entitled to his own style of government. He should, therefore, not allow himself to be coerced by any person or group into replicating someone else’s style. The most important thing is to get the job done, and as the governor has demonstrated a clear understanding, the pact he has with Lagosians who are always eager to appraise and appreciate good performance.  He should be focused on the job and not allow himself to be distracted.

    A fact he must hold sacrosanct is that human beings are always very difficult to satisfy. As benevolent as the Almighty God is, He still cannot please everyone. Therefore, Ambode should be focused on fulfilling his electoral promises to Lagosians. He should follow his convictions and be his own man. At the end of the day, the buck stops on his table. Governance is about continually devising and adopting strategies to advance the course of humanity and meet the challenges of a dynamic and constantly evolving society.

    Ambode surely has all it takes to move Lagos to greater heights. I have no doubt in my mind that he does. His over 27 years experience in the Lagos State public service will definitely serve him in good stead with extra mileage to steer the ship of state to the right channel. Without any doubt, Ambode has had a vastly memorable career as a public sector accountant and administrator in Lagos State. He rose to become the Auditor General for Local Governments in the State, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Accountant General of Lagos State, a position he held until his voluntary resignation from the public service in 2012. In a competitive public service environment like ours, one does not accomplish such a feat by being a neophyte.

    Perhaps, more importantly, Ambode was involved at, possibly, the two most critical periods in the history of the state within the current democratic dispensation. The first was the era of spiteful financial offensive on Lagos, and the other was the period of the dramatic fiscal reengineering that gave rise to the ambitious accomplishments being witnessed in Lagos today. Recent revelation by the governor that the state is now able to save N3 billion monthly expenditure, as a result of the various fiscal re-engineering measures he has put in place in the past five months is indicative of his vast experience as a financial expert.

    Only last month, the governor flagged off the construction of 114 inner roads, two in each of 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 LCDA’s made possible with the intervention of the state government in funding, implementation and supervision. Aside from the direct benefit of the critical link roads to the people, the project will go a long way to enhance local capacity, which translates into a more rapid development at the grassroots.

    Now that he would have the privilege of working with a budget that fits into his own vision for Lagos by 2016, Lagosians would, no doubt, experience breathtaking infrastructure development. Just last week, the governor in an elaborate event, handed over three helicopters for crime and traffic surveillance, which would no doubt impact positively in the management of the two areas of concern. Already, he has professed ‘Operation Zero Tolerance for Pot Hole’, ‘Operation Light up Lagos’, construction of fly-over and pedestrian bridges along selected roads in the state among others.

    Eventually, those who are already crucifying Ambode based on early developments would be disappointed.  His experience is almost similar to that of Asiwaju Tinubu. Upon return to civil rule in May 1999, the Tinubu administration was equally roundly criticized as being ‘slow’ in attending to critical issues in the state. The security situation in Lagos at that time was complicated by the nefarious activities of men of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, (OPC), armed robbers and contest of strength among the various transport unions. However, by the time the Tinubu administration left office in 2007, it has become a pathfinder in the evolution of contemporary Lagos. Agencies such as Lagos State Advertising Agency, LASAA, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, Lagbus Asset Management, LAGBUS, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Agency, LAMATA, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, Office of Public Defender, among others, are some of the enduring legacies of the administration. It was the administration that began the systematic fixing of the state’s infrastructure. Roads were rehabilitated and expanded, drainages and carnal were cleared. Perhaps, more importantly, the Tinubu administration put the state on the trail of economic independence as it shored up the monthly revenue base of the state from a meagre N600 million to over N10 billion.

    In the same vein, the Ambode administration is fine tuning new plans to birth a new Lagos. As the governor embarks on the huge task of consolidating on the gains of his predecessors in Lagos, my advice is for him to chew deeply the words of a celebrated American author and writer, Patricia Lynn Reilly: “Hold on to your vision: don’t let others preach it out of you.”

    ‘Raji, a public affair’s commentator, lives in Lagos.