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Fashola Inaugurates 57 Councils Chairmen, Charges Them To Be Positively Self Inspired

Oct 30, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday inaugurated the new helmsmen at the 57 Local Government and Council Development areas of the State with a charge that they should inspire themselves to be positively different.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Lagos Television (LTV) Agidingbi, Ikeja venue of the swearing in ceremony urged the chairmen to always remember the oath which they took as a covenant with the people before God.

In his words: “Today as you take office, i urge you to inspire yourselves because I do not think there is a greater inspiration than self inspiration. The inspiration to be positively different”.

He urged them to love the people they serve and show them compassion while remembering at all times that they only hold office because of the people and to solve their problems because their hope rests on the chairmen.

He reminded them that having secure the mandate of Lagosians, the season for inter party politics is temporarily over, but a new season of service dedication and selflessness to the people has dawned.

Governor Fashola urged them to use the opportunity to write their names indelibly in the hearts of the people and in the sands of time and cited the example of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was premier of the Western part of Nigeria for eight years but recorded many firsts.

He itemized his list of many firsts to include the tallest building in West Africa Cocoa House, the Liberty Stadium, the University of Ibadan, the WNTV/WNBS, the Odua Group and the most audacious revolution in Black Africa, the free education programme

The Governor also advised them to draw inspiration from the sacrifice of former Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who during a most difficult time chose the path of good governance, rule of law and true federalism by giving opportunities for more Chairmen, Councillors, Secretaries and other public office holders in the local Government level

He added that in the same way that a good decision by the new chairmen can turn the people’s lives around positively forever, a bad decision or policy on their part can do irreparable damage.

Governor Fashola added that he recognizes the enormity of responsibility created by lost opportunities of so many broken promises of the past when the country laboured in the throes of countless political crises and neglected the development of the country.

He said this is not the time to dwell on the past but a time to take the fullest stock of the present, learning from the errors of the past to prepare for a future everyone can see.

He urged them to see the pressure and increasing demand for services from the people not as a bother but as a vote of their belief in the ability to lead them.

Governor Fashola also appealed to the people to understand that public officers are not there to solve personal problems but rather to respond to communal needs that create the greatest benefit for the greatest number.

The Lagos State helmsman also said: “It is by resisting the temptation to pressurize them for personal benefit that the people also play their part by showing good followership”.

He added that as a state Government, a long and detailed tour of all the Local Governments and Council Development areas have been undertaken last year with a detailed compilation of needs and expectations at the councils.

He further stated that the initiative has been taken with the provision of N20 Billion Local Government intervention fund in the 2008 Budget and its implementation has become very evident by government’s presence in every part of the state.

Governor Fashola declared that with the emergence of the new Chairmen, he expects them to continue by complementing the state and even do better.

He urged the local Government Chairmen to emulate the State Government strategy of using every policy and programme of government to drive the economy and stimulate job creation.

The Governor said jobs will be created at construction sites, if roads and schools are constructed; just as access to potable water will make water dependent activities thrive and create water dependent services at an affordable rate.

He advised them to consider a well organized sanitation targeted at cleaning the communities and consequently the state while requiring men and women to deliver it and create jobs, just as he urged them to tap into the job creation potentials of the state waste to wealth programme .

Governor Fashola said the occasion represents a rendezvous that provides the opportunity to surpass the dreams of the founding fathers of the state and write their individual names in gold.

He also said: “I urge you to go out there holding the manifesto of our party aloft as your guide, deploying the resources at your disposal judiciously in life changing and qualitative projects and services on the simple but time tested and democratic principles of life abundant for all and great good for the greatest number”.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye advised the newly elected chairmen to shun divisive tendencies that are capable of retarding progress in the respective local Governments.

The oath of office was administered on the new Chairmen and their deputies by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Mr Justice Augustine Ade Alabi before the Chairmen later took turn to sign the certificate of office before Governor Babatunde Fashola

The ceremony was witnessed by former Governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Lagos) Olusegun Osoba,(Ogun) Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) Deputy Governor Adebisi Sarah Sosan, Speaker of the State House of Assembly ,RT Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, Action Congress Chairman in Lagos State , Chief Henry Ajomale, AC governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, State Commissioner of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, members of the State Executive Council and House of Assembly as well as many traditional rulers and political leaders.

Those sworn include Mr Wale Odunlami- Ikeja, Hon Adaranijo Abiodun -Orile Agege, Hon Soname Adekunle- Ikosi Isheri, Hon Kamal Bayewu- Ajeromi Ifelodun, Hon Adegbenga Basanya- Igbogbo Baiyeku,Hon Aliu Adeyemi- Odi Olowo, Hon Olanrewaju Elegushi Eti Osa, Hon Jide Banjoko Ikorodu West, Hon Adetola Olusegun, Ikosi Ejirin, Hon Adeola Jokomba0 Ikorodu North,Hon Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni- Lagos Island Local Government, Hon Adewale Adeniji- Ikoyi Obalende, Hon Idowu Obasa- Onogbongbo, Hon Yinka Durosimi- Ojo ,Hon Amida Abudu,, Hon Adedayo Samuel Aapapa Iganmu, Hon Sabiu Adelaja Eredo, Hon Bolaji Kayode- Oto Awori, Hon Abiodun Mafe –Mosan/ Okunola.

Others include Hon Kenny Okunmuyide Agbado Oke Odo, Hon Adekanye Oladele- Lagos Mainland, Hon Bayo Balogun-Ibeju Lekki,, Hon Adebiogun Emmanuel-Imota, Hon Demola Doherty- Ifako Ijaiye, Hon Gbolahan Bago-Stowe-Somolu, Hon Bamigbetan Kehinde Ejigbo, Hon Ajayi Adebola- Lekki, Hon Adenekan Oyewole- Ifelodun, Hon Anipole Sheriff- Ikorodu, Hon Olabinjo Benjamin- Ojokoro, Hon Aliu Kazeem- Coker/Aguda, Hon Otunba Yetunde Arobieke- Agboyi Ketu, Hon Adedeji Ademuyiwa- Kosofe, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola- Itire Ikate, Hon James Faleke- Ojodu, Hon Rasaq Folami- Surulere, Hon Sulaimon Akeem- Bariga, Hon Mary Oseghale- Isolo, Hon Agbaje Olusegun- Epe, Hon Bisi Yussuff- Ayobo/Ipaja, Hon Jubreel Abdulkareem- Agege, Hon Jimoh Olajide-Yaba, Com MAO Ola,Igando Ikotun, Hon Owolabi Yisa-Eti Osa, Hon Isiaka Suhrau-Iba, Hon Husitode Dosu –Badagry Central, Hon Adefarasin Hasaan- Ijede, Hon Abayomi Daramola, Hon Adebayo Bello- Egbe Idimu, Hon Ayodeji Joseph- Apapa, Hon Afeez Balogun- Oshodi /Isolo, Hon Adepitan Olatunde- Mushin, Hon Sanusi Tunde-Oriade, Hon Muftau Kadiku- Lagos Island East and Hon Bamgbose Hontonyon- Badagry West.