We’ve been able to re-engineer resources of Lagos in most appropriate way – Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode recently spoke in an interview on how he has been able to pilot the affairs of Lagos State in the last two and half years. Excerpt. 

What are the lessons you have learnt since you came to power as Lagos Governor?

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 re-plan 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.

Your team members have confessed that they always struggle to catch up with your pace of work and the speed with which you accomplish your task. Why are you moving at such a  supersonic speed and pace?

Let me tell you straight away. It’s too straightforward. There are over 22 million people in this state. They are all looking up to one person to give them direction. If you’ve been a hardworking worker, and if you have been very successful in your career, you have never taken a shortcut, you don’t cut corners, you are not blackmailing people to rise, the burden of responsibility is huge.

When I wake up in the morning, I am looking at it as I can’t afford to fail, or if I fail, many lives would be affected. I would have failed 22 million people. So, the work is my life I would do everything to perform very well. I have no other job. They did not beg me that I should come and campaign. I stood up and I said, you know what? I have the competence. I have the capability and the character to do this job. And I told them I would do it diligently. So, how can I look back? I cannot. If after 4 years, they say I have done a good job, that would give me satisfaction.

Naturally, I am a hard-worker. But again, I am also a hard player. If you don’t work hard, you cannot play hard. That’s the bottom line. There is no point deceiving ourselves. So, the truth is this. I put all my totality in my task. My totality means all my team members. I inspire them. I encourage them. I tell them they can be better than the way they came, all just because we are working together as a team. Never shut anybody out. Never even put anybody down, and say, look you cannot do this. In that person maybe a key to unlock the solutions to some of the societal challenges in Lagos. So that’s who I am.

Over the last two and half years, you have been able to pack many projects into this short period that would have taken some other governors 4 years to achieve. Why? How did you do it? What motivates you?

When you use the word you have been able to pack many projects into your two and half years what do you really mean? It makes me laugh. The truth is this: When we were campaigning, we went to the electorate for their votes. We begged them, and we made promises to them. We campaigned. We made promises to them that if they give us their votes that in 4 years, this is what I will do for you.

I will be your good servant. I will be your representative. But in that custodian title and the custodian role, I am going to play on your behalf, this is what I will do with your resources. I have a 4-year mandate to deliver those promises.

So, whatever that I have done in two and half years,  my 4 years has not ended. You just wait, so you would tick whether I have delivered on those promises. So, it’s not about timing, it is about promises kept. Your word should be your bond. That is how I have always lived my life. The ones I will not be able to do, I will come back and tell them.

I am sorry, I wasn’t able to do this. I will come back and tell them why I couldn’t do it. I am in a race. My word I must keep. That is the only thing that drives me everyday. For instance, I promised them the Pen Cinema Bridge, Have I done it? If I haven’t, let me quickly go and do it. So, that is how my style runs. That is what has happened in these last 21/2 years. I still have like 11/2 years more. I keep looking at a checklist of my promises. The ones that I can’t do, I will tell them I am sorry, I can’t do it.

Culled from citypeopleonline.com