Opinion: Rallying round Sanwo-Olu for second term in office, By Kola Amzat
Rallying Round Sanwo-Olu For Second Term In Office, By Kola Amzat
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emergence as helmsman of Lagos State about three years ago was as sudden and as dramatic. Just like his immediate past two predecessors, he appeared from obscurity to be superintending the affairs of the Nigerian most prosperous state, as well as the state with fifth largest economy in the whole of Africa.
Sanwo-olu was reported to be Commissioner for Commerce & Industry in the eleventh hours of Asiwaju Tinubu administration in 2007, but the fact remains that not so many Lagosians knew the governor. Then, he would probably be one of those few cabinet members with knacks for result, diligence, hard-work and resourcefulness, not courting unnecessary visibility and constant desire to be in the glare of the public.
Those traits appear to have been his companion since he ascended the office of governor. If not that an executive governor must of necessity be the main poster boy of his administration, may be, Lagos populace would not be seeing much of Sanwo-Olu in public.
He’s comfortable to remain working round the clock, executing projects, conducting strategic meetings, driving developmental initiatives, as well as be in the fore-front of strategic initiatives particularly necessary to drive the South/West agenda, as well as repositioning the region for genuine growth & developments.
Other notable attribute of the governor is his penchant to be a team player. Despite the fact that he is the Chief Executive Officer of the state, Sanwo-olu has maintains a very compact and close knitted team. Unlike confusion and tales of disintegration that brew from other states from time to time between governor and deputy, as well as cabinet members, Lagosians have not heard nothing of such from this administration.
It’s also gladdening that the governor has maintain a very wonderful and incredible relationship with Lagos State House of Assembly so far, a rarity in a state with humongous resources as Lagos, where everyone supposed to be at daggers drawn scrambling for his own portion of the spoils.
On a related note, it’s also noteworthy that Sanwo-olu has resolved to wholly staying on his path by focusing essentially on effective governance, thus leaving party politics entirely for the state leadership of the party. Whoever might have advised the governor to toe this line of action has done him incredible and monumental favor. Of course, it’s the most plausible thing to do for a governor to principally concentrate on the responsibility he’s given mandate for, as against veering into unnecessary politicking within the state, an action that could only necessitates implosion.
But, the most cherished and applauded trait of the governor is his unalloyed loyalty. That could have been the reason why his journey to political stardom is faster. That could have been the crux of difference between him and many political stalwarts, even across the country.
Sanwo-Olu strikes someone as an impregnable confidant. Even though with slender physique, nature endows him with big belly capable of holding and maintaining secrets. In the Lekki EndSars ‘Thrilla’, Sanwoolu proved that leadership is not synonymous with recklessness and flippancy and that, it’s for the very few who have capacity to maintain confidential and classified information.
Against all odds-barrage of insults, attacks from CSO and Nigerian teeming youths and a segment of international community, he stood his ground. He swallowed them all. He chose not to be pedestrian, petty and dancing to the drumbeats of those who wanted the collapse of government. He chose to say what it needed to be said. He elected to pronounce only what supposed to be pronounced. The EndSars has gone. Nigeria as a country remains. If we’d allowed it to be engulfed, which country do we call our home?
Strikingly, of all the achievements of Sanwo-Olu in government, the most remarkable is the maximum and un-alloyed support he gave to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the latter’s quest for APC presidential ticket. Sanwo-Olu stood like Rock of Gibraltar. The governor demonstrated to the world that Asiwaju Tinubu indeed had home backing. Of course, Rotimi Amaechi, Yemi Osinbajo and other contenders didn’t have that luxury.
He practically abandoned governance in the state in pursuit of Asiwaju Tinubu’s bid. He accompanied the ex-Lagos state governor everywhere, across the country. He was at the fore-front of meetings. He was shuttling between one strategic meetings to woo delegates and the other, to woo the all- important and most imperial northern governors to Asiwaju Tinubu side. There were other nocturnal meetings he was spearheading that were not exposed to the public. In-fact, he’s one of the unsung heroes of the victory in the primaries.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has won the battle to be the torch bearer of APC, the ruling party for the forthcoming presidential elections. Sanwo-Olu played his part in that epic battle and marvelously too. The onus is therefore on the generality of APC members in Lagos to rally round him to ensuring his second term bid sail through. Nothing would be a better reward than returning him back to the office as governor.
He’s proved his worth. He’s proved to be a silent achiever. He’s proved that he’s developmental, diligent and very reliable. He’s also demonstrated level headedness and that he would not rock a boat for whatever reason. For a cosmopolitan state like Lagos, Sanwo-Olu fits the bill. He also has innate capacity to manage diverse interests.
His experience both during the first term, as well as while networking and interfacing with some of his colleagues during the battle for Asiwaju Tinubu presidential bid will come in handy during his second term. More importantly, he’ll be a trustworthy hand to be in charge of Lagos during Tinubu’s spell at the center.
Kola AMZAT (FCA,FCIB)
LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,
09077509348
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, CTP, MBA) Lagos Based Financial Consultant
09077509348.
