BEING THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. AKINWUNMI AMBODE,
GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE ON FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 AT TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE,
LAGOS
PROTOCOL:
Today, I have just performed the sacred
duty of oath-taking as the Governor of Lagos State. It has pleased GOD
through the good people of Lagos State, that my destiny as a little boy,
born from a humble background, on the 14th day of JUNE to become the
14th Governor of our great State, Lagos is being realized.
2 I am eternally grateful to all of you. To all Lagosians,
the
young and elderly, widows, physically-challenged; girls and boys, and
especially, the children; who followed our musical campaign with vigour;
God bless you all.
3 Permit me to acknowledge and appreciate
specially all the voters that voted for me; equally appreciate those
that did not and also the people that did not exercise their franchise
to vote at all. We are all winners. One of the instructive lessons from
this last political campaign and election is for all politicians never
to take our people for granted again. I would, more than ever before;
take you, the good people of Lagos, along with me, in this journey of
renewed hope and prosperity at all times.
4 My appreciation goes
to all our elder statesmen and women including all our senior citizens.
To all our religious leaders, I say thank you. All our Muslim leaders,
Christians leaders and other faiths; your prayers for Lagos State did
not go unanswered.
5 I must not fail to acknowledge all our civil
society organisations. The students, civil servants, labour unions,
artisans, professionals, corporate Lagos, the business community, thank
you very much. To all Lagosians in diaspora, foreign residents and all
other stakeholders; thank you for keeping faith in the potential
greatness of our State.
6 From the bottom of my heart, I greet
all our traditional rulers, our Royal Fathers, Kings, Chiefs and their
wives. I thank you all, most especially, the Chairman; the State Council
of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos.
We promise to continue to nurture our traditional institutions as part
of our heritage.
7 To our Party Leaders and all members of our
great party, The All Progressives Congress (APC); today belongs to you
all. Our elected Officers, the three Distinguished Senators, Honourable
Members of the House of Representatives and Members of the House of
Assembly; congratulations and thank you.
8 And my Deputy; Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, thank you.
9
To my family, words are not enough; My mother, who is here today, thank
you for being a very caring mother to me. All my uncles, brothers and
sisters; I appreciate you. To my lovely wife, Bolanle, thank you so much
for your sacrifices and perseverance. God bless you always. My
children, friends and loved ones and supporters; I really appreciate the
enormity of sacrifices, pain, prayers and efforts. I remain eternally
grateful.
10 Lastly, I speak to the two people that have shaped the history of this State in the last sixteen (16) years.
11
You are focused, dogged and hard-working, you are a visioner par
excellence. You are a bridge-builder. To our leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu; you have laid an enduring foundation for what we are all
building on today. When the history of the political economy of Nigeria
is being written, surely it would be kind to you. Thank you so much.
To
our Distinguished Senator, (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu; your support and
commitment to our State and to me personally during the election is well
appreciated.
12 To the out-going Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji
Fashola (SAN), you have fought the good fight. You came, you saw, you
conquered. I have been at close quarters as a student, you as my teacher
and mentor. On behalf of my family and other good people of Lagos; we
say thank you. We appreciate you and your family.
13 EVERYBODY COUNTS
As
we collectively face the challenge to make Lagos a better place to live
in, we must recognize our strength in diversity. A common national
identity where everybody counts. I shall run an open government of
inclusion that will not leave anyone behind. No matter your age, sex,
tribe or any other Status, as long as you reside in Lagos, we will make
Lagos work for you.
14 THE NIGERIAN DREAM
Lagosians are
hardworking people. Lagos is striving because of its undying
entrepreneurial spirit. However we must realise that there are no
short-cuts to success. To our youths, we must nurture good family values
to succeed in any endeavour. I want our younger ones and children to
draw some lessons from my story. Anyone of you can rise up to be the
best you want to be. Your background and circumstances cannot be an
obstacle to your dreams. In our country, particularly in Lagos, you can
always succeed. This is the Nigerian dream where hard-work, courage,
perseverance, persistence, merit and rewards pay. We must therefore
embrace new thinking and be determined to succeed at all times. I am
ready to encourage and nurture that dream in our children, youths and
every hard-working Lagosian. We would reward merit, hard-work and
loyalty to the State. The future is for those who dare to dream and find
courage to pursue their dreams.
15 THE FUTURE IS NOW
We are
all witnesses to the economic downturn and dwindling revenues at the
national and state levels. The present economic situation has affected
the financial profile of most states in the country.
The state is
blessed that the foundation of its financial autonomy was designed and
implemented by that visioner and our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Thus, the state has been partially shielded from the negative trend
flowing from the federal level.
For us to sustain the progressive and
radical transformation on-going in the state, we have to redouble our
efforts on all fronts for our commitment to excellence. While we must be
creative and innovative; we are not citizens until we become
responsible tax payers. I want to assure all of us that I will make your
taxes work for you. You will surely get a transparent and incorruptible
government that will give you good value for your taxes paid.
Creativity
is the most valuable asset in any public institution. Progressive
governments must reward contributors of good ideas. Therefore, wherever
practicable, we shall practise government by incentives and not
government by enforcement. We shall implement creative ideas and
concepts that reduce the cost of running government; ideas that make
life simpler and happier for our people.
I, therefore, invite you
all, to join hands with me, to offer new ideas that will pull more
resources to cater for the poor and needy amongst us. This will be a
compassionate government.
16 DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2012 – 2025)
In
the spirit of continuity, I am committed to the State Development Plan
(2012 – 2025). The plan is structured under four pillars; (1) Social
Development and Security; (2) Infrastructural Development; (3) Economic
Development and (4) Sustainable Environment.
The challenges we face
today as a State, are good enough ingredients to bring out the best of
all of us. Together, we shall push forward and not look back, with our
hands firmly on the plough. We would work hard to tackle poverty,
ignorance and social decadence in our State.
17 PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS
As
we all know, the best practices of yesterday may not be good enough for
the products of today. In this sense, we shall embark on continuous
reforms in the public service. I am determined to demonstrate that the
government belongs to the citizens. You have put us here as servants to
serve you and not you serving us. Today we are committed to that creed.
Moving
forward, the Civil Service will be strengthened and made to respond to
the needs of all citizens in the same manner, quality services are
rendered in the private sector.
My administration is prepared to take
the decisions needed to promote merit and professionalism. To
restructure where required, eliminate poor Human Resource practices and
accelerate the pace of reforms in the spirit of good governance.
I
want to assure the business community and corporate Lagos that the ease
of doing business in Lagos will be improved upon earnestly. Lagos is
open for greater business; To this end, a new office of Overseas Affairs
and Investment (LAGOS GLOBAL) shall be created under the Governor’s
Office.
We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way; live, work and enjoy in Lagos.
As
part of our reforms, a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment
shall be established. This would specifically address the promise I made
during the campaign on employment trust fund, labour exchange and
entrepreneurship. This goal, we shall pursue vigorously.
Also, the
Office of Civic Engagement shall be created under the Deputy Governor’s
Office to strengthen and enhance our promise on government of inclusion.
Everyone must have a voice in my administration.
18 CONCLUSION
I
have the political will to engage investors and stakeholders in
creating the enabling environment for tourism, entertainment and arts;
and iconic infrastructure for the benefit of all.
Once again, I thank
the good people of Lagos for the confidence reposed in our party; both
at the national and State levels. We shall not disappoint you. God bless
you all.
20 God bless Lagos State
God bless Nigeria
Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko
Oje mi lo gun; Oje wa lo gun
Eko oni baje – I promise.
Thank you.
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