LAGOSIANS FEEL IMPACT OF THE AMBODE ADMINISTRATION — OLULADE
The
Honorable Segun Olulade, represents Epe Constituency II in the House of
Assembly of the State of Lagos on the platform of the All Progressives
Congress (APC). He is the Acting President, Committee of the Chamber of Health Services. In
this interview, he spoke about Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's performance
in the last two years, insisting that the governor has worked
satisfactorily to deserve another mandate.
Excerpts: With only 15 months for another governor's election in Lagos, it seems that there are no activities in the state. We have not yet seen posters of aspiring governors within APC and the opposition in any part of the state unlike what happened in the past. What do you think is responsible for this? Olusegun Olulade It is simply because there are no vacancies for the position of governor in the state of Lagos. There are no vacancies at the Lagos Government House. If someone in his imagination thinks he can defeat the governor of the people, Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019, I have nothing but pity for that person because he will only waste his resources, time and energy chasing a useless ambition. I repeat, there are no vacancies in the House of Government of Lagos! All wise politicians inside and outside the APC know this. The Lagosians appreciate a good product when they see it and Governor Ambode is a perfect example of a good product. You can see your tax working on every aspect of society. With what the governor has done in Abule-Egba, Okota or Epe in terms of infrastructure development and good road network, do you think that someone will go to look for votes as governor and people will listen to that person? That 2019 is just around the corner and we have not seen posters of aspiring governors or that anyone shows interest in succeeding Ambode is significant. No one in their right mind will want to compete against an artist who is very dear to all the inhabitants of Lagos. I think Ambode's second term is guaranteed and the Lagosians should expect a much faster transformation in the Center of Excellence in the coming days. How will you evaluate your performance since you came to power in May 2015? For me, I'm always stunned by his performance. He always has something new to offer Lagosians daily. He has shown us that governance is about people and has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a great visionary leader. He is passionate about the well-being of the good people of Lagos, he is passionate about positively impacting the lives of the people of Lagos and he is also jealous of the transformation of the state into a megacity, a city that works for everyone. When you look at their performance in the area of security, education, economy, health and others in the last two years, you can not but congratulate them for their brilliant performance so far. He knows his onions and why he was elected governor of the state of Lagos. We thank God for making it possible for a man like Governor Ambode to be in charge of the affairs of our beloved state at this time. I do not think we can pray for anything more than this in terms of useful leadership. Ambode for me has worked beyond all expectations. He is the poster boy of our party across the country today. He has not disappointed our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who stood out for him when many opposed his candidacy. He has not disappointed our great party, APC and many of us who campaigned for him, above all, he has not disappointed the Lagosians who gave him his mandate more than two years ago. He has shown us what good government is and we were not surprised at all when the governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, proclaimed him as the Governor General of Nigeria. The kind of achievements we have recorded in the last two years is unprecedented. If some governors can do that in their states for eight years, that government will forever remain indelible in the minds of the people of the state. Ambode has not only provided good governance, it has also inspired other governors in other states of the federation. The Ambode model in Lagos has been well executed and I congratulate the governor and his team, especially his media team, who are communicating their good works to the world. As interim President of the Health Committee, what can you say about the governor's achievements in the health sector? There was a time when I had to write an article about how the good action of the governor has saved my own life as a person. In the area of health, for the first time in the history of the state, all of our general hospitals can now boast regular power supplies, ambulances and medical equipment. Under the administration of Ambode, we have witnessed an unprecedented infrastructural renewal in our health sector. Recently, estI went to Ojodu to order a Primary Health Center (PHC). That also applies to other local governments and LCDAs throughout the state. The government has renovated and built more than 100 health centers in the last two and a half years. This for me, is commendable. Governor Ambode has made my job much easier as chairman of the house health committee. It has turned the health sector into construction centers where there are always daily construction works aimed at improving general hospitals and equipping them with state-of-the-art facilities. The governor has also created an enabling environment for medical staff to work and that is the reason why we can not hear about the brain drain in the Lagos health sector. In fact, I can tell you that health workers and medical personnel are struggling to get a job at the Ministry of Health. Recently, the governor commissioned the State DNA and Forensic Center, the Island of Lagos, which is the first of its kind in West Africa. We also have the heliport at LASU for medical emergencies. When accidents happen in Lagos today, in the blink of an eye, you will see the LASEMA workers, especially the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) on the ground with their gigantic teams providing assistance. Then, without a doubt, the governor has done excellently in the health sector. If I'm going to rate it, I would write it nine out of ten, which is an excellent grade. Are you saying in essence that we do not need a change of government in Lagos? Seriously speaking, I do not think any sensible person will pray for a change of government in Lagos between now and 2023. We're doing well in Lagos and, as a journalist, I'm asking you to go to the streets of Lagos and hear what people are saying. Wherever you go, it's the 'continuity' and 'Ambode leekan si (Ambode once again) what you hear. The Ambode government has been able to touch the lives of both the poor and the rich, regardless of the area where you reside, whether you are in the urban or rural area. No matter where you reside, you will always feel the impact of the Ambode administration. Look at the two roads you built on the inner streets of Lagos through the 57 councils. He has done well in the areas of education, paid employment for young people and care for the physically disabled, and so on. Therefore, I think we are happy with the current administration in Lagos and the Lagos are committed to ensuring that Akinwunmi Ambode returns in 2019 by the grace of God.
Excerpts: With only 15 months for another governor's election in Lagos, it seems that there are no activities in the state. We have not yet seen posters of aspiring governors within APC and the opposition in any part of the state unlike what happened in the past. What do you think is responsible for this? Olusegun Olulade It is simply because there are no vacancies for the position of governor in the state of Lagos. There are no vacancies at the Lagos Government House. If someone in his imagination thinks he can defeat the governor of the people, Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019, I have nothing but pity for that person because he will only waste his resources, time and energy chasing a useless ambition. I repeat, there are no vacancies in the House of Government of Lagos! All wise politicians inside and outside the APC know this. The Lagosians appreciate a good product when they see it and Governor Ambode is a perfect example of a good product. You can see your tax working on every aspect of society. With what the governor has done in Abule-Egba, Okota or Epe in terms of infrastructure development and good road network, do you think that someone will go to look for votes as governor and people will listen to that person? That 2019 is just around the corner and we have not seen posters of aspiring governors or that anyone shows interest in succeeding Ambode is significant. No one in their right mind will want to compete against an artist who is very dear to all the inhabitants of Lagos. I think Ambode's second term is guaranteed and the Lagosians should expect a much faster transformation in the Center of Excellence in the coming days. How will you evaluate your performance since you came to power in May 2015? For me, I'm always stunned by his performance. He always has something new to offer Lagosians daily. He has shown us that governance is about people and has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a great visionary leader. He is passionate about the well-being of the good people of Lagos, he is passionate about positively impacting the lives of the people of Lagos and he is also jealous of the transformation of the state into a megacity, a city that works for everyone. When you look at their performance in the area of security, education, economy, health and others in the last two years, you can not but congratulate them for their brilliant performance so far. He knows his onions and why he was elected governor of the state of Lagos. We thank God for making it possible for a man like Governor Ambode to be in charge of the affairs of our beloved state at this time. I do not think we can pray for anything more than this in terms of useful leadership. Ambode for me has worked beyond all expectations. He is the poster boy of our party across the country today. He has not disappointed our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who stood out for him when many opposed his candidacy. He has not disappointed our great party, APC and many of us who campaigned for him, above all, he has not disappointed the Lagosians who gave him his mandate more than two years ago. He has shown us what good government is and we were not surprised at all when the governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, proclaimed him as the Governor General of Nigeria. The kind of achievements we have recorded in the last two years is unprecedented. If some governors can do that in their states for eight years, that government will forever remain indelible in the minds of the people of the state. Ambode has not only provided good governance, it has also inspired other governors in other states of the federation. The Ambode model in Lagos has been well executed and I congratulate the governor and his team, especially his media team, who are communicating their good works to the world. As interim President of the Health Committee, what can you say about the governor's achievements in the health sector? There was a time when I had to write an article about how the good action of the governor has saved my own life as a person. In the area of health, for the first time in the history of the state, all of our general hospitals can now boast regular power supplies, ambulances and medical equipment. Under the administration of Ambode, we have witnessed an unprecedented infrastructural renewal in our health sector. Recently, estI went to Ojodu to order a Primary Health Center (PHC). That also applies to other local governments and LCDAs throughout the state. The government has renovated and built more than 100 health centers in the last two and a half years. This for me, is commendable. Governor Ambode has made my job much easier as chairman of the house health committee. It has turned the health sector into construction centers where there are always daily construction works aimed at improving general hospitals and equipping them with state-of-the-art facilities. The governor has also created an enabling environment for medical staff to work and that is the reason why we can not hear about the brain drain in the Lagos health sector. In fact, I can tell you that health workers and medical personnel are struggling to get a job at the Ministry of Health. Recently, the governor commissioned the State DNA and Forensic Center, the Island of Lagos, which is the first of its kind in West Africa. We also have the heliport at LASU for medical emergencies. When accidents happen in Lagos today, in the blink of an eye, you will see the LASEMA workers, especially the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) on the ground with their gigantic teams providing assistance. Then, without a doubt, the governor has done excellently in the health sector. If I'm going to rate it, I would write it nine out of ten, which is an excellent grade. Are you saying in essence that we do not need a change of government in Lagos? Seriously speaking, I do not think any sensible person will pray for a change of government in Lagos between now and 2023. We're doing well in Lagos and, as a journalist, I'm asking you to go to the streets of Lagos and hear what people are saying. Wherever you go, it's the 'continuity' and 'Ambode leekan si (Ambode once again) what you hear. The Ambode government has been able to touch the lives of both the poor and the rich, regardless of the area where you reside, whether you are in the urban or rural area. No matter where you reside, you will always feel the impact of the Ambode administration. Look at the two roads you built on the inner streets of Lagos through the 57 councils. He has done well in the areas of education, paid employment for young people and care for the physically disabled, and so on. Therefore, I think we are happy with the current administration in Lagos and the Lagos are committed to ensuring that Akinwunmi Ambode returns in 2019 by the grace of God.
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