![NG-[A_BA[COMP_TABL_ALLC]:TABLETS_160x600](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vzmHbnzvN3Aekg4SuixDV9yFPFOlaMVJ0YTRPXQU71-J4tzZ1D7UeBdjUs2Ct_4CEsPFeyF4U0QYS6uZ-3xArnHDr9xpkRQIYWd_z78ptUslT7zkG9bH_NwlLNEKIIJFfSrX7HQJCleXChLvMBbZsns5l1r03DVuq_bqjZOIFAr386iexSTQ=s0-d)
The race for the 2015 general election is already heating up the nation’s polity. Although, the election is less than six months away, some contenders have expressed their desires to contest for various positions in the coming election. The case of Lagos State gubernatorial election is particularly interesting. This is because, the state has the most vast economic potentials and the strongest visibility in national politics. Lagos is the only state in Nigeria, where Lagosians alone cannot determine who becomes the governor. Everybody in Nigeria has a stake in Lagos.
Invariably, the Governor of Lagos State is like the president of a mini-Nigeria. As the current governor, Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN), rounds up his tenure next February, most Nigerians are anxious to know who will succeed him, eventually. Already, some personalities have openly or covertly declared their gubernatorial aspirations Under the platform of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Notable among them are; Ganiyu Solomon, Gbenga Ashafa, Akinwunmi Ambode, Obafemi Hamzat, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Leke Pitan, Abike Dabiri and some others. Below is a list of the top seven contenders, jostling for the gubernatorial seat on the APC platform.
1. KADRI OBAFEMI HAMZAT
Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is a front-runner in the race for the next Governor of Lagos State. He stands a high chance of carrying the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 governorship election. Hamzat is highly favoured and on top of a list of five aspirants warming up to become the 14th Governor of the state when Fashola’s tenure expires in May 2015.
Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is a front-runner in the race for the next Governor of Lagos State. He stands a high chance of carrying the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 governorship election. Hamzat is highly favoured and on top of a list of five aspirants warming up to become the 14th Governor of the state when Fashola’s tenure expires in May 2015.
Hamzat is armed with a very impressive professional and educational competence. An outstanding intellectual and technocrat, Hamzat is a professional engineer, thorough-bred systems integrator, seasoned administrator and consummate manager of men and materials. He has had over two decades of work experience in diverse areas of engineering practice including project management, computer networking, enterprise system assessment, engineering system design and implementation. During this period, he held enviable positions in different world-class international organizations.
Most political pundits are of the view that Hamzat is one of the best candidates the Lagos APC can produce in the coming election. This is because he has worked with Fashola in the last six years and he knows the terrain very well. Hamzat’s chances are buoyed by the fact that, like Fashola, he is not much of a politician, and he does not engage in group alliance of any sort that could be a distraction.
2. AKINWUNMI AMBODE
Akinwunmi Ambode, a Christian and a former Accountant General in Lagos State. He served in several other capacities including Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Auditor General for Local Government and across all cadres of Lagos state’s civil service for a total of 27 years before his voluntary retirement in 2012.
Akinwunmi Ambode, a Christian and a former Accountant General in Lagos State. He served in several other capacities including Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Auditor General for Local Government and across all cadres of Lagos state’s civil service for a total of 27 years before his voluntary retirement in 2012.
Ambode believes in mentoring and sees it as an effective way of helping people to develop and progress in their chosen careers and making sure they maximize their potentials.
He is the founder of the La Roche Leadership Foundation, a foundation that he founded in 2012 to attend: to the well being and prosperity of Nigerian students in all facets of their educational endeavors (be it technical, formal, social or vocational). He also believes in creating and sustaining a positive, enabling and empowering educational environment for younger groups.
Ambode is described as an industrious public servant who developed the template for the re-engineering of the financial sector of Lagos. Not only did he re-engineer the finances of Lagos, he also developed the blueprint on how Lagos survived when former president Olusegun Obasanjo, unconstitutionally seized the local government funds from the federation account.
He is the founder of the La Roche Leadership Foundation, a foundation that he founded in 2012 to attend: to the well being and prosperity of Nigerian students in all facets of their educational endeavors (be it technical, formal, social or vocational). He also believes in creating and sustaining a positive, enabling and empowering educational environment for younger groups.
Ambode is described as an industrious public servant who developed the template for the re-engineering of the financial sector of Lagos. Not only did he re-engineer the finances of Lagos, he also developed the blueprint on how Lagos survived when former president Olusegun Obasanjo, unconstitutionally seized the local government funds from the federation account.
3. GANIYU OLARENWAJU SOLOMON
Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, sure belongs to the league of politicians who are forces to be reckoned with, especially, at the Centre for Excellence, Lagos, where he has made his mark as a formidable politician. The one-time chairman of Mushin local government, who moved up the ladder to become a Senator, is well loved by his people and quite influential within and beyond the state as a politician.
Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, sure belongs to the league of politicians who are forces to be reckoned with, especially, at the Centre for Excellence, Lagos, where he has made his mark as a formidable politician. The one-time chairman of Mushin local government, who moved up the ladder to become a Senator, is well loved by his people and quite influential within and beyond the state as a politician.
Solomon has continued to sustain the philanthropic legacies of his late father through his GOS Foundation. The Foundation has over the years provided assistance in skills acquisition, educational development, micro-credit, health care and poverty alleviation to Lagosians irrespective of political leanings.
A devout Muslim, humanitarian, and philanthropist, Solomon has received several awards, both home and abroad on account of his contributions to Nigeria and to humanity.
He stands a good chance to clinch the party’s ticket ahead of other aspirants, based on his political clout, his knowledge of the workings of governance and his role in harmonizing the party members in the state.
He stands a good chance to clinch the party’s ticket ahead of other aspirants, based on his political clout, his knowledge of the workings of governance and his role in harmonizing the party members in the state.
4. ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA
The latest entrant into the race is Honourable Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa. Dabiri-Erewa’s chances are brightened by the fact that the APC leadership is enthusiastic about proving that it is gender sensitive, and it is desirous on trying what no other party has tried before.
Moreover, the party leadership is reported to be putting the issue of gender preference into consideration. The leadership is reported to be tinkering with the idea of installing a female as a governor. Invariably, the leadership didn’t have to look any further before they found a worthy candidate in Dabiri-Erewa.
The latest entrant into the race is Honourable Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa. Dabiri-Erewa’s chances are brightened by the fact that the APC leadership is enthusiastic about proving that it is gender sensitive, and it is desirous on trying what no other party has tried before.
Moreover, the party leadership is reported to be putting the issue of gender preference into consideration. The leadership is reported to be tinkering with the idea of installing a female as a governor. Invariably, the leadership didn’t have to look any further before they found a worthy candidate in Dabiri-Erewa.
Dabiri-Erewa, 51, is a third term member of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly. This confers on her, the status of one of the most prominent politicians in Nigeria today. It is not a hidden fact that Dabiri-Erewa has paid her dues, proven her worth and done Lagos proud. She is charismatic, cosmopolitan, polished and eloquent; and she is one of the few Nigerians with acceptable global presence. As the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affair, Dabiri-Erewa is known to have the widest network of Nigerians in the diaspora.
5. LEKE PITAN
Dr. Leke Pitan is a versatile public administrator of note, a visionary leader, an astute change agent and a good people’s manager. While in office as Commissioner of Health. he created the first health service reform that enabled flexibility and good quality of healthcare services to the people of Lagos State.
Prior to his administration, it was difficult to get ambulances from government hospitals to convey very sick patients or accident victims to hospitals; he created the existing Lagos State Ambulance Services in the state and as serving commissioner, he personally went round Lagos State to identify strategic pin down points (locations) of the ambulances in order to respond quickly to emergencies, rather than having them parked at the hospital premises. The service is free to Lagos State residents.
The Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) was created by Dr. Leke Pitan for very quick response of government to various types of emergencies. This is evident today in the positive attitudes of the agency during the recent series of disasters that occurred in Lagos.
Lagos State government remains the first in the history of Nigeria’s healthcare management to perform open heart surgeries on patients. This novel practice was the ingenious initiative of Dr. Leke Pitan.
Dr. Leke Pitan is a versatile public administrator of note, a visionary leader, an astute change agent and a good people’s manager. While in office as Commissioner of Health. he created the first health service reform that enabled flexibility and good quality of healthcare services to the people of Lagos State.
Prior to his administration, it was difficult to get ambulances from government hospitals to convey very sick patients or accident victims to hospitals; he created the existing Lagos State Ambulance Services in the state and as serving commissioner, he personally went round Lagos State to identify strategic pin down points (locations) of the ambulances in order to respond quickly to emergencies, rather than having them parked at the hospital premises. The service is free to Lagos State residents.
The Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) was created by Dr. Leke Pitan for very quick response of government to various types of emergencies. This is evident today in the positive attitudes of the agency during the recent series of disasters that occurred in Lagos.
Lagos State government remains the first in the history of Nigeria’s healthcare management to perform open heart surgeries on patients. This novel practice was the ingenious initiative of Dr. Leke Pitan.
6. GBENGA ASHAFA
Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa (born 22 July 1955) is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Lagos State. He represents Lagos East in the current 7th National Assembly. He is a seasoned administrator and a top contender for the Lagos State gubernatorial seat in 2015. Before he found his way into the Senate, Ashafa was the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau. While he was at the Lagos Lands Bureau, Ashafa wormed his way into the hearts of most civil servants. He was great administrator and he led his team to execute many laudable projects.
Although, Ashafa is yet to make public, his intention to run for the Lagos State gubernatorial seat in the coming election, most people are well aware that he is one of the most favoured candidates.
Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa (born 22 July 1955) is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Lagos State. He represents Lagos East in the current 7th National Assembly. He is a seasoned administrator and a top contender for the Lagos State gubernatorial seat in 2015. Before he found his way into the Senate, Ashafa was the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau. While he was at the Lagos Lands Bureau, Ashafa wormed his way into the hearts of most civil servants. He was great administrator and he led his team to execute many laudable projects.
Although, Ashafa is yet to make public, his intention to run for the Lagos State gubernatorial seat in the coming election, most people are well aware that he is one of the most favoured candidates.
7. ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI
Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is also among the top contenders for the Lagos gubernatorial seat in 2015.
Ikuforiji attended the University of Lagos Business School where he attained a Masters in Business Administration in 1986. He also holds a number of certificates from Harvard University the Kennedy School of Government. His continued passion for change in the Nigerian government system also led him to recently attend the Global Change Programme: Leading with Commitment, Creativity and Courage at Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government in May, 2012.
On his scorecard as the speaker in the last eight years, Ikuforiji has succeeded in establishing a virile legislature and promised to build a state where people would be happy if elected.
Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is also among the top contenders for the Lagos gubernatorial seat in 2015.
Ikuforiji attended the University of Lagos Business School where he attained a Masters in Business Administration in 1986. He also holds a number of certificates from Harvard University the Kennedy School of Government. His continued passion for change in the Nigerian government system also led him to recently attend the Global Change Programme: Leading with Commitment, Creativity and Courage at Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government in May, 2012.
On his scorecard as the speaker in the last eight years, Ikuforiji has succeeded in establishing a virile legislature and promised to build a state where people would be happy if elected.
About Unknown
Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.
0 comments:
Post a Comment