The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode described the state’s economy as stable and healthy in spite of economic recession ravaging the country.
The governor stated this while speaking with City People’s Publisher, Seye Kehinde after the Statue unveiling exercise of the sage Obafemi Awolowo on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
He said the state did not suffer recession due to sound economic planning and management put in place by the government.
Read excerpts…
What are the lessons you have learnt since you came to power as Lagos Governor?
(Smiles) One lesson is that I should not over promise. The issue is this. When we were making promises, we were not aware of the financial portfolio or the political dynamics surrounding those promises that we made. If we are to make any future promise now, I now understand the environment. I understand the financial resources and the inability of the people, if you are not going to tax them to death, I understand the issue of recession. I now understand the issues that relate to creating happiness for people. So, I will make sure that I moderate deliverables against the environmental factors in which I have found myself.
But despite all the challenges facing the initial promises you made during the campaigns, you were still able to deliver. So, what has been Gov. Ambode’s formula for success in Lagos State?
You know one thing about me. I like to underplay myself at all times. But believe me, I must say to people that God loves Lagos State.
Why?
He chooses the leader, that is so much desired, matching the skill set of the leader with this era in which the leader arises. Why am I saying this? God gave us Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a time when we needed to create a foundation of a spiral growth and development of this city. Somebody, who is so visionary, but again boisterous in political outlook, to create that enigmatic outlook for Lagos. God gave him that opportunity. He used it thoroughly. He has placed Lagos State on the pedestal of growth and development. And he bid his time farewell and left.
At a time that we needed to also accelerate the vision of Asiwaju, God gave Lagos a Lawyer in the person of Babatunde Fashola. He applied his skill set to sustain and enhance all the things that Asiwaju dreamt of a new Lagos.
But between you and I, did we ever know there would be economic recession? Did we ever know that there would be a fall in Crude Oil price? Did we ever know that we would not have enough financial resources from the centre? So, in His infinite mercy, God gave a financial manager to Lagos State at a time, when it needed financial dexterity to replan and re-energise the city. That’s how endowed Lagos State is with different leaders at particular moments to make sure that the city does not go down. When you look at the spiritual side, it is also now blessed with that peace of mind for the people, who would join hands to make Lagos rise.
So, if it’s in terms of my skill set as a public finance management expert, of which I have tried to use my skill set in this, we have been able to re-engineer the resources of Lagos State, in the most appropriate way, apportioning the resources into the different sectors in a fair and just manner that every part of the state feels that sense of inclusion.
That’s all that we have been able to do with the same set of resources, even coming in a leaner manner, but again being managed more prudently in a manner that every other part is feeling it. That is what has happened to Lagos State. I don’t know, if someone else was here, he could have been better, he might be better, or it could have been worse, but at least, we are all living witnesses to the progressive nature of development that you are finding in Lagos.
How is that possible? We are gaining the confidence of the people, in a manner that they see the infrastructural development that we are giving and they can repose confidence in us. They trust us that we will use the resources diligently, efficiently, and they are paying the taxes. What we are using to develop Lagos is the Tax Payer’s money, from the citizens.
That is what we are using on their behalf, to rearrange the infrastructure and make life more comfortable for them. That is what I owe them. We are accountable to them. And that is why we are striving as much as possible that if you do a Checklist of all our promises to the electorate, at least, they will be able to say, you know what? With the little resources you had and with the kind of things that we have seen, you are good in our books.
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