Politics

Copy Lagos development template – Dangote tells Obaseki

Published

8 years ago

November 14, 2016

Olu Emmanuel

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As Ambode advises Edo Gov on good governance

Billionaire businessman and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at the weekend urged the newly sworn-in Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to replicate the leadership template of former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to transform Edo and make it a reference point for commerce and development.

Dangote, who spoke at the inaugural dinner held in Benin to usher in the new Governor, said Tinubu laid a solid foundation for development of Lagos which his successors keyed into and even scaled up to bring about massive transformation and development.

He said just like Tinubu, former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has also placed Edo on sound footing for development, urging the new Governor to also follow the path of continuity for progress.

The businessman, who said he had lived in Lagos for about 37 years, said Lagos had indeed progressed following the leadership template of the former Governor.

On his part, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, urged the new Edo Governor to properly plan his policies and programmes and carefully implement them with the view to building on the solid foundation laid by the Comrade Oshiomhole.

He, specifically, admonished Obaseki to properly think, plan and implement his policies.

While emphasizing that there is a great wall of difference between electioneering and actual governance, as well as between being a member of a team and leading a team, Governor Ambode said it was important for Obaseki to prepare his mind for backlash from people who would want him to be in a hurry to take decisions, but that he must be ready to meticulously plan and implement policies that would be in the interest of the people.

Governor Ambode, Chairman, APC National Campaign Committee for the Edo Governorship

election, said Obaseki being a financial savvy individual and an intellectual, would perform creditably well, adding that such was part of the reasons why he worked for his victory at the polls.

“But I like to borrow you (Obaseki) the Lagos template. What is it that the people of Edo State will be expecting from you? You are likely to be silent for the very first few weeks and they will say you are not performing but you have to think it, plant it and then you act it. That is the Lagos template,” Ambode said.

Besides, Governor Ambode expressed optimism that Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu would make a good team and build on the solid footing laid by Comrade Oshiomhole, thereby transforming Edo to another Lagos, adding that he would be ever ready to support the new government.

Earlier, Obaseki appreciated all the people that worked for his victory at the poll, especially Governor Ambode, and promised not to let them down.

He said Edo had always copied the template upon which Lagos is being administered, assuring that he would work assiduously to make the State great.