Tribute to the Actualiser at 60

By Mac Durugbo

What accolades could possibly be showered on Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, that has not been showered on him before or what titles could possibly be bestowed on him that has not been given him before? Nationally and internationally he has been acknowledged as the ACTUALIZER.

Incidentally this was the title given to him by his mentor and the incumbent President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, back in 2009, two years after he took over the reins of power from him as the Governor of Lagos State. It was a name befitting a man who actualized his Seven Point Agenda for the Centre of Excellence and City of Aquatic Splendour.

Today, at age 60, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola still stands tall and ready to take the mountains.  And although he is still 20 odd years shy of Caleb’s age and many generations separated from him, he has certainly taken more mountains in so short a time that he has become as famous in contemporary times.

In just sixteen years during which he has served as two term Governor of Lagos State and two term Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,  or BRF, as preferred by his numerous  admirers, has, through sheer hard work, dedication and commitment to duty, acquired  an enviable reputation as one who brings good dreams  to reality.

He was, within those years, able to turn into a Mega City by global standards an otherwise decaying city whose reputation as one of the dirtiest in the world had gained global recognition,. He achieved that within his two terms as Governor of Lagos State. In doing so, he not only revamped the economy of that State but also created new ones which have today stood the State head and shoulder above its contemporaries across the country..

Like a skilled mechanic, apologies to Professor Wole Soyinka, he refurbished the old relics of the City and turned them into effective use. One of the unforgettable legacies he left behind was the GREENING of Lagos which attracted lots of criticisms at first, especially from the opposition who accused him of destroying the livelihood of the masses. But they were stunned and speechless when the mountains of refuse round the City disappeared and under bridges that were hitherto haunts for Loafers and Street urchins turned into parks and gardens;

They were astounded when the loafers and street urchins themselves disappeared only to reemerge later as gardeners and horticulturists; when he lit up the whole of Lagos and reestablished the long lost NIGHT MARKETS for which the City was famous; when   he   activated moribund landmarks that constituted the soul of Lagos, to the admiration of conservative Lagosians. By the time he left. Lagos in 2015, he had established a legacy of both excellent performance and innovative leadership which his colleague-Governors, who rightly nicknamed him TEAM CAPTAIN, sought to emulate.

His recruitment by former President Muhammadu Buhari into his Cabinet in 2015, therefore, came as no surprise to many Nigerians.  What, perhaps surprised many was the portfolio which placed on him the responsibilities hitherto carried by three Ministers. The Ministries of Power, Works and Housing, three ministries critical to the economic survival of the nation’s economy, were merged and put under his supervision to the severe criticisms of many Nigerians.

But as Minister of the Federal Republic, he was again able to replicate this legacy of excellent performance and innovative leadership at the national level as he bestrode the three powerful Ministries merged into one, leaving behind him eight years later a landmark of remarkable achievements still being celebrated and will continue to be across the country for several decades to come.

In the Power Sector, which he supervised through the first term of the demonstration, for example, he not only rejuvenated existing but moribund Power installations across the country, he also brought in innovations that expanded the scope of operation of the sector. The innovations he brought into the sector certainly remain unmatched and has given the sector a new lease of life. The On-Grid and Off-Grid policy, the Metering policy, and the policy which made it possible for individuals and private organizations to access power directly from the generation companies as well as the Power Sector Monthly Meetings which he introduced and many other initiatives and policies, gave that sector new approaches to the solution to its hitherto manifold and seeming intractable challenges

In the Works Sector, which he continued to supervise till the end of the demonstration, he also left the same signature of excellence across the six geopolitical zones of the country in terms of road and bridge rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction as well as maintenance. It is, perhaps, significant to mention some of the flagship projects, especially those projects which defied the efforts of previous administrations but brought to successful completion under the Buhari administration.

They include the Second Niger Bridge in Delta and Anambra States, the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State and the Loko-Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa State and completed section of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriage way as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which was  over 96 percent completed before the exit of the administration

Of these projects, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the 2^nd Niger Bridge are, perhaps, most worthy of some details. This is because while the former was abandoned by the preceding administration as a result of wrong policy approach, the later was on the drawing board of previous administrations for over four decades.

The Buhari government with the Minister as arrowhead, undertook the two and  while the Bridge was commissioned officially by Mr. President in  a visual ceremony which featured the commissioning of six other projects, including three Federal Secretariats in Awka, Anambra State, Yenagoa, in Bayelsa State and Gusau Zamfara State, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway fell short of completion by just four kilometers which had to be delayed because  of a patch of black cotton soil found under the pavement and which led to the decision to replace it so that a proper job would be done before final commissioning now deferred till the next Administration with the expected completion date shifted to June 30, 2023.

In the Housing Sector, the greatest legacy, perhaps, is the National Housing Programme which has today become reality in 34 of the 36 States of the country and the FCT and has opened the door, perhaps, for the first time, for Private Sector participations in the delivery, on a massive scale, acceptable and affordable housing for all classes of Nigerians across the country.

Perhaps of greater significance is the impact these projects have on the people. Whether it is Power, Works or Housing, thousands of Nigerians benefited in terms of direct and indirect employment, boost in trade and commerce, escalation in value of landed property and road connectivity, among other benefits.

Also cottage industries regained significance; thanks to the policy initiated by him which stated that only equipment that could not be produced in the country would be imported. Small-Medium Enterprises engaged in the local production of items hitherto being imported for Power installations, Road and Housing construction as well as maintenance.

In my sixteen years of tracking him, first as his Personal Assistant on Print Media and later Media Assistant to his Special Adviser on Communications, I have come to learn some of the qualities that have put him head and shoulder above others in leadership over the years. But permit me to speak these qualities through some eminent Nigerians who were among his numerous admirers and who also watched from the side lines.

Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, at a welcome party organized for him by his colleagues at the Ogudu Estate on his return from his UK assignment, said of the then Governor, “When we were beginning to lose hope in our ability to govern ourselves, Fashola has come to rekindle our hopes and make us believe once more that it could be done”.

He told the Governor, “You are like a breath of fresh air. You have lit the flame of hope and you have particularly given the young people a reason to wake up and be active again. When I was growing up, people were wont to accusing the leaders then that they were always earmarking huge sums of money which never translated to any concrete project so they now prefer leaders who would eye-mark for all to see. This is one Governor that eye-marks because what he is doing is there for all to see”. This observation is still as true of his performance as Minister as it was in 2009.

And our own Nobel Laureate, renowned Professor Wole Soyinka said of him at the height of the great developmental changes in the State, “Fashola is not a politician. I internally call him a Mechanic. He approaches and clinically diagnosis a problem and goes at it like a skilled Mechanic; retaining the parts he can use and discarding those he cannot use. And he does this ruthlessly because he is not a politician. Again this observation is still as portent as it was years back.

Perhaps of more significant is the observation of the onetime Minister of Foreign Affairs who was of the Opposition Party, late Chief Ojo Maduekwe. At the risk of being accused of making anti-party statement, he said of the then Governor, “The Governor of Lagos State has shown that what we need to change Nigeria is that we be the change. He has made my job so easy because sometimes, and  at the chagrin of the PDP leaders, I say that Fashola provides an absolute and overwhelming evidence of what leadership can achieve; the transformational possibilities of leadership”.

These universal statements, which are as true and pertinent today as they were when they were first made, could be summed up in two words CHARACTER and ABILITY, two qualities required to attain excellence in leadership. While Ability represents skills, Character represents all the qualities that make up a person’s nature or personality – integrity, sincerity, commitment, humility, confidence among others.

In his 16 years of public service, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, has more than demonstrated these qualities. And there are numerous awards and accolades, local and international, to attest to this. From local awards like Governor of the Year from local dailies and magazines to international awards like the International Crisis Group’s October 2015 presentation to him of the Stephen J. Solarz Award for his “commitment to resolving social, economic and security challenges in one of the world’s most challenging urban environments,” the Minister was also named among the 100 Top Global Thinkers for 2013 by a global personality assessment organization, Lo Spazio della Politica (LSDP) “because he made Lagos an African hub of innovation, launching the Lagos Innovation Advisory Council, with the help of the Harvard Kennedy School”

Your Excellency, this tribute is not enough to describe the wealth of knowledge I have garnered over the years from following you; neither will words be enough to express my gratitude to you for giving such knowledge generously, not only to me but to all Nigerians with teachable hearts.

At age 60, Nigeria still needs your service and continued contribution to the development of the country. Most especially, Nigeria needs your mentorship of her youths and upcoming leaders and to reproduce as many of yourself as will rescue her from seeming perpetual underdevelopment and put her on a sustainable global scale as a developed nation.

So as you celebrate today with family, relations, friends and associates, my prayer for you is that the Almighty God will sustain you in excellent health as you continue this task to bring to accomplishment the Project Nigeria.

60 Happy cheers to a leader with the golden touch and

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

 -MAC DURUGBO