Press Releases

"There Can Be No Effective Leaders Without A Credible Election", Says Fashola
• As he declares open one-day LASIEC Stakeholders' Forum

Jun 7, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday declared open a one-day Stakeholders' Forum organized by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), with a declaration that the hope of achieving effective leadership in the country lies in credible elections.

The Stakeholders' Forum, held at the Multipurpose Hall "A" of the University of Lagos, with the theme, "Delineation of Wards And Creation of Additional Polling Units In Lagos State: An Impetus to Fair And Credible Representation At The Grassroots", is the first in the series of fora which will take the Commission through the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas to sensitize the people and involve them in the process of delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units in the State.

In his address at the occasion, Governor Fashola noted that the only way to get the support of the people at the grassroots level in the governance of the State is by installing credible hands and effective leaders at that level.

"But there cannot be effective leaders without credible election and credible election will remain a mirage without an electoral framework that encourages the participation of the people in decision-making both in the choice of those who represent them as well as actual engagement in government", the Governor said adding that it is by so doing that sustainable development can be achieved.

Describing the event as epoch-making, Governor Fashola declared, "Today, we set another record. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is now the first state electoral body to have ever commenced the process of delineation of wards and the creation of additional polling units in Nigeria", adding that it is in line with the desire of his administration to make Lagos an outstanding model Mega-City in the country.

"It is certainly not debatable that our State, given what it contributes to the National Economy, to the national polity, to the regional development of West Africa, is grossly under-provided for in the areas of elected representation within our Federal arrangement", the Governor said adding that for LASIEC to have taken the initiative in the area of representation at the Local Council and Local Government levels is most welcome.

The Governor commended the Chairman and members of LASIEC "for this painstaking efforts you have made to engage our people in a participatory manner in the electoral and democratic process", adding, "Today, we have come to move Lagos forward not only in terms of physical structures but also in terms of good governance"

"We are interested in bringing governance closer to the people of Lagos State to ensure that their votes continue to count. Our desire and our plan is to bring more credible hands into the management of the affairs of the 20 Local Governments and the 37 Local Council Development areas. This is to encourage accountability and effective representation at the grassroots", Governor Fashola said.

He said the Government has decided to put in place an electoral framework that will ensure that each councilor is known to residents of his or her ward adding, "This we intend to do by ensuring that our polling units are located in the areas and manner that will not impinge on the peoples' desire to exercise their franchise on the day of election".

"More than ever before, our poling units and wards are to be closer and safer than previously obtained", the Governor said pointing out that the importance of the delineation exercise could be better understood when it is considered that a person responding to ten people would be more effective than a person responding to a thousand people. "This is the only way that democratic representation can be better", he said.

Reiterating his call on the Federal Government to decentralize government at the Federal level and create more Federal constituencies, Governor Fashola said the State Government, on its part, must at the same time allow governments at the grassroots to thrive.

Commending the initiative of LASIEC "for the bold step of delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units in the State aimed at achieving equal representation in the State", Governor Fashola, who also expressed joy at the participation of other political parties, declared, "We look forward that this deliberation will take us to the implementation of policies that will make our democracy more participatory".

Also present at the Forum were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters Bureau, Hon. Abdul Lateef Abdulkareem, Chairman of the State's Action Congress, Otunba Henry Ajomale, members of the State Executive Council and Legislature, Local Government and Local Council Development Area Chairmen, political party and Religious leaders, Traditional Rulers, market women and men as well as grassroots leaders and other stakeholders.