CONTRARY to misrepresentations in some sections of the media, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, at two different fora at the weekend, continued his sustained campaign for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Lagosians to vote for its governorship candidate, Mr Akin Ambode, in order to sustain the programmes of the present administration.
It will be recalled that at several public fora and media interviews preceding the APC governorship primaries in the state, Governor Fashola had reiterated his conviction that he would support any of the candidates produced by the party primaries, adding that being product of the Lagos State Public Service system, any of the candidates who emerged would be able to carry on the task of sustaining the rapid development going on in the state since the return of democratic governance in 1999.
Speaking at the Lagos Sea Food Festival 2014 at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Governor Fashola said supporting the new candidate and the party would also ensure that the state would continue to enjoy the good governance and high performance attributes of the party, which had been variously demonstrated in all the states under its control.
Noting that the 2014 Annual Seafood Festival would mark his last as governor of the state, the governor declared: “I urge you all to support the new APC governorship candidate; support him, support the party and make sure that the festival continues.”
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Ambode, has reiterated his intention to open up Lagos State for a more conducive business environment and investment opportunities.
Ambode, who emerged as Lagos APC standard-bearer on Friday, with a landslide victory over 12 other aspirants in a keenly contested primary election, said a robust and rewarding business environment, as well as a conducive living condition with world-class social infrastructure for residents in every part of Lagos were his focus.
This made an important part of his acceptance speech he read out immediately after being declared winner at the Onikan stadium.
Ambode restated the need to expand the frontiers of business opportunities in Lagos, when he spoke to journalists and supporters on Sunday.
“We have a legacy to build upon and it is our collective responsibility to build on the progress Lagos has witnessed in the last 15 years,” he said on Sunday on the sideline of the thanksgiving church service which held in his honour, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and later at a Meet-the-People reception at his hometown, Epe.
According to the former Accountant-General of Lagos State, the last 15 years had witnessed an irreversible growth and development “of our great state, with a foundation laid concretely by Senator Bola Tinubu between 1999 and 2007.
“The consolidation and actualisation of that growth, to which we are all living testimonies, have been achieved by the incumbent governor, Babatunde Fashola.”
He added that it was important to reiterate that the solid foundation already laid by the two previous administrations must never be destroyed, but built upon.
“I wish to restate my promise, therefore, that I commit to the continuation of excellence and the upliftment of the lives of all Lagosians,” he stated.
Ambode said his core message stood on the acronym ‘LAGOS’, which he explained stood for Leadership, Accountability, Good governance, Opportunities and Service.
“My mission and vision, therefore, is to create a clean, secure and prosperous Lagos State; one driven by a vibrant economy and supported by quality service, equity and justice; a Lagos, where no one is left behind and where no one is discriminated against on account of age, religion or origin.
“In building on the legacies of the last 15 years, it is important to expand the frontiers of doing business in this state, which has the potential to be the one of the top five economies in Africa.
“Lagos deserves nothing less and this shall continue to be part of my message to every Lagosian, as we begin to solicit their votes towards the February 2015 governorship election.”
A graduate of the University of Lagos; Fulbright scholar and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ambode said his sterling experience in public service over 27 years, would be a priceless asset to his administration if he became governor in 2015.
His first 13 years in service was as treasurer/accountant across various local government areas in the state. He rose to be the Auditor-General of the local governments in Lagos State before becoming the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General of the state.
Source: Tribune
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