By the grace of Almighty God and Your votes, I stand before you today as your Governor. (Pause)<\/p>\n
This day marks the beginning of a new chapter in our journey to greatness. Today, I ask you to join me on this journey to awaken a Greater Lagos.<\/p>\n
When we speak\u00a0of a\u00a0Greater\u00a0Lagos,\u00a0we speak not empty words. \u00a0It is a deep and profound assertion we mean.\u00a0
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\nWe intend to make history by making for ourselves and our children a better future.
\nTherefore,\u00a0on this day,\u00a0on this\u00a0precious\u00a0land we call our home, let us stand together in the very face of\u00a0history.<\/p>\n
Let us\u00a0vow to ourselves, and\u00a0to posterity\u00a0that we shall not just\u00a0dream\u00a0of a Greater\u00a0Lagos. Let us agree this day that we shall collectively\u00a0rise up to build the Lagos of our dreams. <\/p>\n
We need not be discouraged by the challenges that may be apparent. Today is an opportunity for us to forge ahead in our quest for a Greater Lagos. <\/p>\n
It is possible! <\/strong><\/p>\n No one\u00a0should ever underestimate the\u00a0spirit of Lagos and\u00a0the resilience of\u00a0its people.\u00a0Yes, hard problems may confront us, but we will also confront them. Every problem will lose its potency to our unity. <\/p>\n Therefore, Lagosians, in this new chapter of our lives,\u00a0we need not cry or fret. We are united by our common purpose of a Greater Lagos and fulfilling future. \u00a0<\/p>\n Posterity has given us this day to commence our journey to greatness. We need to envision the glorious end of working together, tirelessly and committedly, towards achieving a Lagos of our dreams. By our\u00a0individual and\u00a0collective efforts and the Grace of God, these dreams will become a reality. <\/p>\n In Lagos State, our story has been of successes and achievements. Since 1999, our tradition of progressive governance\u00a0has set Lagos apart and strengthened people\u2019s belief in our ideology. <\/p>\n And that is the very\u00a0reason I stand before you on this historic day as your Governor. While we celebrate\u00a0the\u00a0victory of progressive governance and democracy,\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0we must\u00a0be\u00a0ready to\u00a0stand\u00a0on guard and\u00a0be fully\u00a0vigilant.\u00a0<\/p>\n Democracy\u00a0and\u00a0progressive governance\u00a0hold only to the extent that we protect and nurture\u00a0them. While Lagos\u00a0glimmers as a beacon of\u00a0progressive and quality governance, our nation\u00a0now\u00a0undergoes\u00a0a historic\u00a0battle to establish progressive and just governance. <\/p>\n Lagos must again\u00a0rise and\u00a0help lead\u00a0this nation to\u00a0fuller\u00a0progress and\u00a0to a\u00a0closer realization of\u00a0the greatness that exists\u00a0within all Nigerians. <\/p>\n This\u00a0inauguration symbolizes such an\u00a0awakening.\u00a0 Let the ingenuity of our hands, the sweat of our labor and the\u00a0compassion that resides\u00a0in our hearts be committed to this common goal. But we can choose how we\u00a0walk into\u00a0history. \u00a0Shall we do so as masters of our fate, or as slaves to things that\u00a0seek to suppress\u00a0us?<\/p>\n When the history of our moment is written,\u00a0let it not\u00a0be\u00a0told\u00a0in tears of defeat, rather\u00a0let it\u00a0resound\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0anthem\u00a0of\u00a0collective\u00a0victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Let\u00a0our\u00a0time\u00a0be\u00a0proclaimed\u00a0in golden celebration of a state,\u00a0and of a\u00a0people\u00a0who stood in unity of purpose to make their home a Greater one. Asiwaju\u00a0led\u00a0the team that created\u00a0the blueprint for development;\u00a0both administrations\u00a0faithfully\u00a0executed that\u00a0economic blueprint and established the structures and institutions of progressive governance in the process. As your Governor, I know\u00a0fully well\u00a0who I\u00a0am, because\u00a0I know where I am from. More importantly, I know where I am headed. It will be my job to continue that process by refining and perfecting the foundation laid by the preceding administrations. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I speak to the\u00a0poor and to the\u00a0rich.\u00a0I speak to\u00a0the\u00a0Danfo\u00a0driver as much as to the millionaire, to the fruit vendor and much as to the real estate titan. \u00a0<\/p>\n I speak to\u00a0employer and employee, I speak to teacher and student, I speak to mother and father.\u00a0The civil service as well as the private sector\u00a0–\u00a0We are all Lagosians. Not only is Lagos home to so many people and their aspirations, it is also the catalyst of economic growth for much of Nigeria.\u00a0 As long as Lagos flourishes, Nigeria has more than a fair chance to enjoy the development and growth needed for its deserving population.\u00a0If Lagos falters, Nigeria also stumbles.\u00a0 My goal is to advance the social and economic progress of this state and its people; regardless of your faith, social class, or your origin of birth. \u00a0<\/p>\n As long as you adopt the spirit of Lagos, Lagos\u00a0in turn\u00a0shall adopt you.\u00a0 My door shall remain open to all. I shall seek the advice of the learned, the wise and the ordinary Lagosian, for in the common man resides much wisdom and fairness of thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n While\u00a0one\u00a0cannot\u00a0help\u00a0but hear the\u00a0kind words\u00a0of friends, I\u00a0must\u00a0pay\u00a0even\u00a0closer attention to the voice of my critics.\u00a0<\/p>\n In constructive criticism lies the seeds of improvement.\u00a0With these things\u00a0in mind, let me quickly outline my\u00a0goals for a\u00a0Greater Lagos.\u00a0 And to do so, we have formulated a concise framework that encapsulates our collective vision for the state and ensures that our undertaking remains focused and our communication remains clear as we endeavour to build a Greater Lagos we can all be proud to call home. T\u00a0\u2013 Traffic\u00a0Management\u00a0and Transportation<\/strong> H\u00a0\u2013 Health\u00a0and Environment<\/strong> E\u00a0\u2013 Education and Technology<\/strong> New educational infrastructure will cultivate a learning environment that prepares our children for a new world that demands creativity, intuition and critical thinking. <\/p>\n We will ensure technology is integrated into our school curriculum and empower our youths with the much-needed skills for the jobs of tomorrow. <\/p>\n M\u00a0\u2013 Making Lagos a 21st\u00a0Century Economy<\/strong> E\u00a0– Entertainment and Tourism<\/strong> S\u00a0\u2013 Security and Governance<\/strong> It is important to ensure that we set the right tone for good governance and accountability at the top. <\/p>\n To this end, my administration will ensure that we walk the talk as far as transparency, the rule of law and fiscal discipline are concerned. <\/p>\n We will make sure that we create the right environment in which security and safety of lives and property are guaranteed. <\/p>\n Our ultimate goal would be to ensure that Lagos state remains one of the top destinations on the African continent to live, work and invest in.<\/p>\n These six (6) Pillars of Development represent our response to the yearnings of the people. They constitute the foundations that must be restored for future generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n And should we fulfil our promise and deliver on these pillars, we are most confident that we will have succeeded in setting Lagos on a new trajectory of economic growth and development that\u00a0would be\u00a0unprecedented\u00a0in\u00a0our entire history.<\/p>\n Let me also add that in doing all of these, the welfare and socio-economic well-being of our hardworking civil servants would equally be given the priority that it\u00a0truly deserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n Similarly, our youths and women would be\u00a0well integrated into our governance structure to\u00a0equally\u00a0contribute their utmost to our developmental strides.\u00a0 I urge you all therefore to lend yourself to this excellent cause and join our march to victory over\u00a0our\u00a0social and economic\u00a0challenges.\u00a0\u00a0Do not stand aside and let this good\u00a0development pass you by.\u00a0 I implore us all as Lagosians to rededicate ourselves to contribute our individual quotas positively and responsibly in this new drive to reform our society and take it to a higher pedestal. <\/p>\n We must imbibe the spirit of being our brothers\u2019 keeper in our daily lives at home, work, recreational places and worship centers, and most especially on our roads.\u00a0 Every Lagosian has a role in this government\u00a0and we will on our part, certainly walk the talk in all that we would do as your elected officials.\u00a0 We must therefore be\u00a0prudent, yet not afraid to act, to ensure\u00a0that\u00a0this large population enjoys the economic prosperity and social security that our developmental agenda has to offer. Indeed, our best days lie ahead of us. By the grace of Almighty God and Your votes, I stand before you today as your Governor. (Pause) This day marks the beginning of a new chapter in our journey to greatness. Today, I ask you to join me on this journey to awaken a Greater Lagos. When we speak\u00a0of a\u00a0Greater\u00a0Lagos,\u00a0we speak not empty words. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":103534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8648,15,2,10,4],"tags":[9212,49287,3476,1722,49288],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nToday, I\u00a0stand before you as your governor, but also as your friend, brother; neighbor and your servant. I stand here to\u00a0ask that you join me to\u00a0script and fashion this greater\u00a0Lagos with the creativity of our minds. <\/p>\n
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\nWe are but human beings.\u00a0Our time on this earth is finite, and shall one day\u00a0pass.\u00a0At some\u00a0point,\u00a0we\u00a0shall\u00a0all\u00a0enter\u00a0the book of history. This is inevitable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nIn\u00a0this,\u00a0we\u00a0simply adhere to the tradition of enlightened government set by those who came before us. We owe a\u00a0large\u00a0debt\u00a0of gratitude to\u00a0Asiwaju\u00a0Bola\u00a0Ahmed\u00a0Tinubu\u00a0and to\u00a0Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
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\nGovernor\u00a0Akinwunmi\u00a0Ambode\u00a0pushed forward in a special manner.\u00a0His efforts and\u00a0actions\u00a0shall be\u00a0duly\u00a0remembered.<\/p>\n
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\nI have been a part of this progressive journey since its very inception. I know first-hand the\u00a0concerted\u00a0efforts\u00a0that went into planning so many of the innovations we now see and enjoy. <\/p>\n
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\nIn this regard,\u00a0I\u00a0shall forever remain\u00a0loyal\u00a0to the aspirations of the people and to the\u00a0developmental blueprint that has brought so much success to our dear state.
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\nThe\u00a0Babajide Sanwo-Olu\u00a0you see today shall not change and try to become something I am not. My prayer is only that I grow and improve as your Governor to implement good policies and bring the prosperity you deserve.\u00a0
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\nOn this\u00a0day,\u00a0I speak to the young and old, Christian and\u00a0Muslim, those who trace their\u00a0earliest\u00a0ancestry\u00a0back\u00a0to this land, and to those who came last week. <\/p>\n
\nI say to you all let us explore how we can best establish a harmony of interests and avoid the growing tendency to focus on those things that differentiate and divide one Lagosian from another.
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\nBy the dint\u00a0of Providence, this small tract of land intersected and surrounded by waterways and lagoons has become home to roughly 22 million people, with their various dreams and aspirations. <\/p>\n
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\nThe world outside sees Lagos as Nigeria. We are Nigeria\u2019s door to the global economy and the global economy\u2019s door to Nigeria.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nThe reality of the integral role we play in Nigeria\u2019s ascent to national greatness coupled with the untapped potentials we hold to produce even greater\u00a0wealth to improve the\u00a0living conditions\u00a0of our people are the things that make Lagos a magnificent place.
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\nThese strategic aspects of our current reality, and of our immediate future, bestow on me and my administration a profound responsibility. <\/p>\n
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\nAs I said in my acceptance speech, I am too focused on moving Lagos forward to give a second thought to where a person may have come from. As long as you are animated by the spirit of achievement, cooperation and tolerance, then you are Lagosian. This is my motto.\u00a0
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\nThis is how I see our home and this is how I shall run my government. I shall select the best and most qualified people to hold positions in our government. <\/p>\n
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\nThe Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and I are single-minded in our desire to bequeath to our successors a far Greater Lagos than the one we inherited today<\/p>\n
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\nThe\u00a0framework,\u00a0as our six (6) Pillars of Development Agenda, is captured\u00a0by the acronym, \u201cT.H.E.M.E.S, which I will briefly talk about: <\/p>\n
\nHere, we must act with urgency to execute a transport masterplan that will fully integrate road, rail and water transportation\u00a0into a multi-modal transport system that makes commuting easy for Lagosians. We must also ensure compliance with all traffic rules and regulations on our roads.<\/p>\n
\nBecause we know the significance of a clean environment in preventive healthcare, we have a moral duty to provide basic health care for our people, especially those who cannot afford it. Under our comprehensive health program, we will place special emphasis on maternal healthcare, malaria and water borne diseases. We will also focus on sanitation and waste management, by ensuring that our drainage systems are functional and kept clean. <\/p>\n
\nWe will invest in the education of our children and young adults. By increasing the budgetary allocation to education, this government will empower teachers in every local government and strengthen their capacity to deliver quality education to our children. <\/p>\n
\nBy investing in critical infrastructure, we will accelerate the growth of our economy and empower the private sector who are the real engines of growth.
\nWe must break the deadlock that shackles our power distribution, provide sustainable urban settlements that addresses the current deficit; while at the same time building a smart city that achieves urban harmony and sets a new bar in our nation. <\/p>\n
\nWe will nurture and showcase our cultural heritage and unique hospitality, support our entertainment, visual arts and sports sectors, and inspire the kind of creativity from our most talented individuals that will enhance our reputation at home \u2013 and abroad. <\/p>\n
\nThe last of these pillars of development is Security and Governance. <\/p>\n
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\nThe\u00a0mission upon which we embark today, shall happen. As we gather force and momentum, there will be no mortal power that can stop our movement towards\u00a0greater prosperity, justice and hope.<\/p>\n
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\nThe hearts and hands of\u00a0the Deputy\u00a0Governor, Dr.\u00a0Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and myself are extended to each and every Lagosian.\u00a0Join us on this\u00a0noble\u00a0journey\u00a0as we strive together to birth and nurture a Greater Lagos.
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\nHowever, make no mistake, the success of our development agenda must be a shared and collective responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nWith these goals, we embark on a new social contract\u00a0that will ultimately be beneficial to all; irrespective of age, religion, socio-economic status or ethnicity. <\/p>\n
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\nAs I conclude, I\u00a0agree\u00a0that Lagos has many challenges before it, challenges that have the power to consume us. <\/p>\n
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\nWe\u00a0have, without doubt,\u00a0been placed here at a momentous time. Let\u00a0us\u00a0make the most of what God has given us.\u00a0We cannot\u00a0afford to do less than that.\u00a0
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\nOn this day, I vow as your Governor that\u00a0I will serve the public cause with my utmost ability and commitment. With your help, I know we can make Lagos Greater still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nThank you
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\nGod bless\u00a0the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
\nGod bless Lagos State
\nGod bless you all.
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\nH.E. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu\u00a0<\/strong>
\nGovernor, Lagos State.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"