For his unassailable achievements as governor of Lagos State in the last eight years, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) sure deserves all the encomiums being poured on him by those who know him. And expectedly, the governor was celebrated in a book written by about 30 notable people who have one story or the other to tell about him. The book, entitled, ‘The Example: The Era of Babatunde Fashola as Governor of Lagos State’, was launched at an event orgarnised by the Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD), on Wednesday at Shell Hall in MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos.
It was all about a man who approached governance with energy and imagination and came out as the gold standard for governance and a governor of example. His colleagues came to see and learn; they freely gave their accolades. For them, Fashola became the governor of example.
On Wednesday, friends and associates gathered for the launch of the book, edited by the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Sam Omatseye, and reviewed by a member of the Editorial Board of The Nation, Olakunle Abimbola. The forward was written by Prof Itse Sagay (SAN).
Among the contributors to the book are former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello; a personal assistant to Governor Fashola, Oluwaseun Faleye and several others.
The book tells Fashola’s story from the inside, by lieutenants who saw him work; think in the posh office and in the rain-drenched trenches. It is also written by some on the outside who looked in and they present a barometer of the unbiased onlooker. It is a rounded view of his stewardship.
The book launch was part of the activities during the public policy lecture of the Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD). The theme was: “My stewardship – Eight years of delivering excellence”, with Governor Fashola as the Guest Speaker.
For the main event, the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, had a formal setting, decorated in black and white colours. Most of the guests were corporately dressed, while others wore native attire.
Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, enlivened the gathering with jokes.
The Chairman of IoD programme committee, Mr Yomi Jones, welcomed the guests, while the Vice Chairman, IoD, Mr Kelechi Ozuzu, read the citation of Governor Fashola.
In his speech, Fashola thanked the Chief Host, President / Chairman of the Institute, Chief Mrs Eniola Fadayomi, for the platform and described Omatseye as his friend and a respected columnist.
According to Omatseye, the editing of the book demanded a lot of pressure, but it was also an intellectual fulfillment.
“Trying to get everybody to write, pursuing them, shaping the idea of what they are supposed to write, eventually editing the book, the production and getting it printed was such an interesting and fulfilling exercise; I am very grateful to God that this day has come,” Omatseye said.
The reviewer, Abimbola, said the book is a glorious showcase of the wonders Fashola has wrought in his eight-year governorship, heading to a glorious finishing on May 28.
“The tale, a relay of 36 contributors, is told mainly by participant-observers, cabinet members past and present. The only exceptions are John Kayode Fayemi, a gubernatorial peer and former governor of Ekiti; Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group; Aderemi Makanjuola, CEO Caverton Helicopters; Marvel Akpoyibo, former Lagos State Police Commissioner; Walter Olatunde, project director of Deux Projects Ltd; Aminu Yaro Idris, Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos State; Prof Adewale Oke, CMD, LASUTH and Mark Eddo, the maker of a triad of documentaries on the renascent Lagos of Asiwaju Tinubu-Babatunde Fashola era, and proud Eko citizen.”
Mrs Fadayomi said as Fashola’s achievements are being celebrated, we must not forget that preservation of worthy deeds are best captured in the quality of the projects executed as well as documented records of how it was done.
She commended Omatseye for undertaking the task of documenting these milestones in the book.
She said the IoD Nigerian public policy lecture is a platform designed to showcase the pride and satisfaction in adhering to good governance and give the governed the opportunity to access the quantitative and qualitative impact of the policies of government and key governmental agencies.
