Fashola begs for forgiveness; reels out achievements of his administration

Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, Thursday, asked those he might have offended in the course of duty during his 2,900 days in office to forgive him.

Fashola made the request in Ikeja at a programme to commemorate his 2,900 days in office and showcase his achievements in the period.

The government, since inception, has always reviewed its activities every 100 days and the 29th edition, which held on Thursday, is the last of such under Fashola, whose tenure will end in the next 21 days.

Fashola explained that he was called upon to take decisions in the morning, afternoon and sometimes late in the night and he took the decisions based on the information made available to him.

The governor who stated that his decisions were always made in the best interest of the state, though some people might have felt hurt in the process, urged those people and groups to forgive him since he was human and could also have made some mistakes.

According to him, piloting the affairs of the state has been very challenging, but the cooperation of his team and residents has seen him through.

He said in the last eight years, his administration had recorded strides that had impacted positively on the lives of residents.

The governor said he had promised Lagosians during his inauguration in 2007 that he would revolutionise the critical sectors like health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and transportation.

He said looking at some of the achievements recorded in those sectors few days to the expiration of his tenure, he was almost sure the assessment of his government would be in the positive.

While saying that he would not pretend to say he had done all the work, Fashola said he trusted in the ability of the Gov-elect, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to continue from where he stopped.

“I made a contract with Lagosians eight years ago. The summary of the contract is contained in my inaugural speech on May 29, 2007 and I crave your indulgence to repeat what I said on that day.

“I said ‘Fellow citizens, in seeking to meet your aspirations within the shortest possible time, my administration would pay attention to the core areas of education, public transportation, infrastructural development, job creation, healthcare, crime fighting and the environment’.

“That was the promise I made. Ladies and gentlemen, my task as your governor is almost done. In the next 21days, our governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode will take over from where I stopped as I would have reached my destination.”

Reeling out some of the achievements of his administration in the last eight years, Fashola said his government had built no fewer than 362 new roads within the period.

The governor who said his administration had built Okota Link Bridge, Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and other bridges within the period to ease traffic in the affected areas, added that his government had employed no fewer than 20,000 people into the civil service even as many jobs had been created through new projects.

Fashola said the government had installed no fewer than 28,456 street signs to enhance easy navigation and give clearer directions on the roads. According to him, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System has helped revolutionised public transportation, while millions were now being moved by ferries.

He said the creation of no fewer than 196 parks and gardens by his administration had also beautified the environment, while noting that the massive investment in schools had raised standards and improved the pass rate.

The governor said the construction of new health institutions, including Primary Health Centres and specialised Maternal and Child Care Centres had also shrunk mortality rate and promoted health.

He asked the people if these projects had impacted on them positively and said if the answer was in the affirmative, then he had been able to achieve his objectives.

Fashola thanked all residents for making his development agenda for the state a reality through their understanding and compliance with laws.

The governor urged Lagosians to give more support to the incoming administration to enable it to achieve more.

He said even with the few days to the end of his administration, he would continue to take steps that would further the state’s development.

Speaking on the failure to re-open the Lagos State University after it was closed for the general elections, the governor urged aggrieved unions in the institution to sheathe their swords to enable it happen.

The governor appealed to the lecturers to take the step in the interest of the school’s stability.

Former governors of the state, Sir Mobolaji Johnson and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, were some of the dinitaries who attended the programme, including Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos and some other traditional rulers were also at the programme.