Obviously, saying something is not the same thing as doing something. Also, it may well be easier to say something than to do something. These realities mean that a power-seeker may well be a talker and not a doer, and may well demonstrate inaction in power.
In October 2014, a power-seeker who is today in power formally expressed his desire to govern Lagos State. He projected his political vision through an inventive acronym, LAGOS, which was notable for the inclusion of service. Akinwunmi Ambode declared at a well-attended event at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos: “Our message is LAGOS. LAGOS is Leadership, LAGOS is Accountability, LAGOS is Good Governance, LAGOS is Opportunities and LAGOS is Service. This is what I stand for.” It was striking that his organising principles were put in a capsule named after the state he sought to govern.
As Ambode marks a year as Governor of Lagos State, his performance in office shows that he is a man who can walk the talk. It is useful to reflect on how he moved from words to deeds. What’s in a biography? Plenty, if it’s about Ambode. The Art of Selfless Service by Marian Osoba, which was launched in Lagos ahead of Ambode’s political ascendancy, stands out as a must-read for anyone who wants a picture of him.
Two quotes from the biography deserve contemplation, considering the familiar tendency for personal aggrandisement in the country’s corridors of power. Ambode was quoted as saying: “A true leader sees his work as selfless service towards a higher purpose. A true leader should be judged by what he has not – ego, arrogance and self interest.” He also said: “We must, wherever we find ourselves, create an atmosphere of selfless service.” Ambode’s emphasis on selfless service is a defining plus because a leader without a correct sense of service is ultimately negative.
Interestingly, the biography provides a thought-provoking response to the view in certain quarters that Ambode is a puppet of certain political kingmakers. Ambode said:”At different points in our lives, we have had relationships; a teacher, a boss, an employer, a friend, a parent who has greatly changed the way we looked at life and the world. Someone who inspired us and motivated us, someone who taught us to set goals and instilled the confidence and spirit to achieve them, someone who had high standards and truly stood for something; such a person is the real mentor we all need to find. I have found true leaders through such observations in the course of my career…they help you build your art of selfless service, but it is important too that you carve out for yourself an identity authentically your own, that you don’t monkey another person’s life so slavishly as to lose your own.” Against this background, it may be observed that Ambode has been guided by his understanding of brand identity. In a year in office, he has communicated his own unique personal brand.
Before he became a governor, Ambode in May 2014 published a piece in celebration of Lagos State’s 47th anniversary. Ambode said in the piece titled “Happy Anniversary, Lagos State”: “As Lagos turns fifty in the next three years, therefore, the future beckons on whoever would take over the baton in the relay of enduring people-friendly policies to solidify and build on these worthy legacies.” His reference to legacies was a tribute to the governmental accomplishments of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who governed the state from 1999 to 2007, and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who succeeded Tinubu. The state’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated next year, and the Ambode administration is preparing for a mega celebration.
It stands to reason that a megacity needs mega governance. The status of Lagos as a megacity is a reason for mega governance. Nigeria’s megacity in 2015 was listed 12th among the world’s largest 35 cities, and credited with an unofficial population figure of “approximately 21 million”. Of course, a mega city has to grapple with mega challenges. Megacity challenges include slums, crime, homelessness, traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
“If we take the concept of resource generation, allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development,” Ambode said while presenting a paper titled “Public Finance: Probity and Accountability” at a workshop organised in August 2014 by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School. Also, in a newspaper interview he shed light on his understanding of good governance, which is an essential aspect of his vision:”In essence, the elected government is like a caretaker for the rest of the people, overseeing their resources on their behalf. The citizens remain the landlord while the elected officials are only caretakers. Arising from this, good government can only thrive where the resources of the people are judiciously distributed to various sectors/needs in the society in a just and equitable manner that makes life easier for every person.”
It is noteworthy that when in November 2015 the Ambode administration donated modern security equipment worth over N4bn to the Nigeria Police Force, President Muhammadu Buhari described the donation as a “remarkable feat”. Buhari urged other state governments to “emulate Lagos State by supporting security agencies that are trying to keep us safe”. Ambode’s exemplary donation was of national significance because security is significant.
Food is significant too. Food is a hierarch in the hierarchy of needs. When in March the Ambode administration signed a record-setting agriculture-related Memorandum of Understanding with Kebbi State’s Atiku Bagudu administration, it was an exemplary move towards a much-needed agricultural revolution in the country. “This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that two states are collaborating to develop their agricultural potential,” Ambode declared. The logic of this agricultural partnership and how it will enable national food sufficiency and food security, apart from its employment-generation possibilities, is compelling and commendable.
These two instances will suffice to illustrate and underline Ambode’s national relevance and remarkableness, beyond his undeniable gubernatorial value. By effectively moving from words to deeds, he has shown what is possible when a leader takes his own words seriously.
