Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Cream of elite from the private sector thronged the Lagos State Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, very early in the morning and waited eagerly to hear Governor Babatunde Fashola give account of his stewardship in the last 400 days.
Cream of elite from the private sector thronged the Lagos State Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, very early in the morning and waited eagerly to hear Governor Babatunde Fashola give account of his stewardship in the last 400 days.
The occasion was full of promise as the auditorium was filled to capacity. A band played soft music to keep the audience relaxed.
Fashola had decided to mark his 400 days in office by meeting with the private sector and seek ways to partner with them to project the image of the state.
At the venue were Chief Rasak Okoya, Chief Executive Officer, Eleganza Group of Companies; Chief Goody Ibru, Chairman, Ikeja Hotels; Dr. Nike Akande, Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Asiwaju Solomon Kayode, President, LCCI; Sir Remi Omotosho, Director General, LCCI; Lawrence Osayemi, National Treasurer, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Marvel Akpoyibo, new Lagos State Commissioner of Police, among others.
Some selected commissioners and Special Advisers made presentations at the event, trying to convince the captains of industry on the need to partner with the state under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, had set the pace by telling the audience that the occasion was not to celebrate 400 days in office, but to give account of stewardship.
'This event is an accounting session. We were under great pressure when we first started last year," Fashola had told his audience and went on to give a summary of his achievement in the last 400 days.
For close to an hour, Fashola held his audience spellbound as he marshalled his points in the most logical manner one could think of. This, no doubt, led to a standing ovation he received from the cream of elite present at the occasion.
'Fashola's performance has been very remarkable, he has done well and we are quite impressed and hope he will continue like this," said Akande.
'Fashola is a visionary, he is a professional who has handled his job with precision in line with what he had promised Lagosians," added Otunba Femi Deru, Deputy President, LCCI.
According to Omotosho, 'this is an administration that is unique. I think it is the best we have had in Lagos State as it has touched the lives of Lagosians in the last 400 days.
'He should continue with this same zeal and focus and will emerge the best thing that has happened to Nigeria after Awolowo."
To Akpoyibo, 'the difference is very clear. If one is to consider his contribution towards safety of lives and property, it is tremendous and remarkable. He is a model and an awesome governor."
'I will give him good marks. I think he started very well and showed lots of determination to make Lagos State a premier state and I am impressed with the team working with him," said Ibru.