Press Releases

Lagos Is In Safe Hands With Fashola As Governor - Jakande

Jul 23, 2009 - First elected Civilian Governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande on Thursday said the administration of Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is one of the best Lagos State has been privileged to have.

Alhaji Lateef Jakande who spoke at a reception held for his 80th Birthday at the Police College, Ikeja added that he feels happy that God has given the State a man like Governor Fashola.

Said he: “Fashola is a man who has clear ideas of what has to be done. He is a man who knows what is right and goes ahead to do it. I belief that with this qualities, Lagos State is in safe hands”.

Alhaji Jakande urged everyone to give total support to the Fashola administration and help the Government to achieve desired goals.

“I am impressed that this is a Governor who knows where he is going and how to get there. No Government can succeed without the support of the people. Let us all support him”, Alhaji Jakande added.

He reminded everyone that this is a good opportunity to have good governance in Lagos State which should not be allowed to slip by.

Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said the State Government welcomes clear ideas about how some of the challenges facing the State could be solved.

The Governor who gave a goodwill message at the event spoke after the Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Reuben Fasoranti urged all progressives to forge a common ground in order to move the country forward.

Governor Fashola demonstrated statesmanliness when he made no reference to the rather inappropriate comments of the then Deputy to Governor Jakande, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo who said during their tenure cheap houses and a lot of mini water works were built.

Instead, the Governor noted that his administration was not aversed to constructive criticism.

According to Governor Fashola: “if we see the roadmap with the solutions, we are very flexible to change, we are willing to learn, we do not claim the monopoly of knowledge to solve all the problems”.

Governor Fashola added that the administration welcomes criticisms because it believes they suggest a vote of confidence in the abilities of the government to deliver and a reminder about what remains to be done.

The Governor assured that if the present administration sees a convincing roadmap, he would be the champion of the process of implementing it, adding that his vision is not to be the leader of the best Government in the State but to be able to inspire others who would be better.

Governor Fashola declared: “Our government fervently prays that we will not be the best government to rule Lagos, we pray that greater men and women will come who will surpass our achievements when we are done”.

“That really would be the way of assuring and securing the prosperity of Lagos and that every Government that comes after the preceding one becomes better than the last one”, he added.

The Governor, who explained that the event was sponsored by friends and championed by the State Government, expressed the hope that the commitment with which the organizers of the birthday reception have delivered, would have demonstrated to all that public service is noble service.

He added that it is hoped that the celebration has also in a way inspired some other men of knowledge and women of capacity to aspire to public service.

He thanked God for giving the Government and people of Lagos to celebrate Alhaji Jakande, saying in doing so it is hoped that some recompense can be made to the wife and the children for that period when LKJ was not there because he was serving the people.

Governor Fashola also congratulated the wife, Alhaja Abimbola for being a true mother and true home keeper as well as a good partner because without her the task would have been more difficult.