PICTURES: Tinubu, Fashola Lecture New Lagos Cabinet On Leadership At Retreat

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE 

At the ongoing 4-Day retreat organised to prepare the new members of Lagos State Executive Council and the Permanent Secretaries for huge task of governance, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday charged members of the newly inaugurated cabinet to see their appointment as an opportunity to serve the people of the state.

Tinubu stated this during his presentation at the retreat holding at the Eko Hotels and Suites aimed at keying the new appointees to the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s six pillars of development tagged T.H.E.M.E.S.

The former Lagos State governor told the 35 Cabinet members to see themselves as equal among other qualified Lagosians and therefore should be prepared to serve the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“My experience can only be shared with you as time progress. You are a team of selected few chosen to serve the people of Nigeria and Lagos. This is an important state and the heartbeat of Nigeria…To serve Lagos is a great honour and opportunity for you. It shows you have been deemed to be one of the able professionals in your field with great character,” Tinubu said.

He added, “However, talent can only give you the opportunity and recognition away from your peers but it can’t pave the way for the well being of the society. Talent without character is zero. There are so many unrewarded talents across the world. Your appointment gives you huge opportunity unavailable to the rest of the people. Always place it in your mind that honour and opportunity comes with great responsibility.”

Tinubu, who came to the retreat with a bag full of books he shared to everyone including Lagos State Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu, later advised the team to beam its special focus on three key areas: environment, education and health.

He believed the success of the Sanwo-Olu administration would be dependent on the far-reaching reforms that would turn around the listed areas.

Also at the retreat was Asiwaju Tinubu’s successor and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who equally delivered a paper also on leadership.

Fashola, who spoke on Personal Perspective on Leadership, said the appointees had signed up for “tough task’’, noting that their actions must prove their appointments were well-deserved.

He advised the new appointees to work more, read a lot rather than resulting to prayers in the discharge of their duties.

His words; “You have to read a lot. You can’t do this business without reading. I welcome you to life of service to your nation and state. Forget prayers, it’s what you do that matters. You have signed up for a difficult job but it’s a noble undertaking to serve your people. You have to prove you deserve to be here. Some of you have been in politics, some are technocrats. You came here on a political platform so you all have become politicians.”

Fashola continued, “You must develop working relationship with political structure in your wards and state. Don’t leave the area from where they picked you. You are the ears and eyes of the governor from where you are picked.”

Present at the Day 3 of the retreat were Lagos State governor and his deputy, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat respectively, and former Lagos State Commissioner and the Director General of the Budget Office, Dr. Ben Akabueze.

One of the major reasons for organizing the 4-day Capacity Building programme amongst others, is to foster and build team work and unity of purpose among administrators that will be taking decisions in the ministries, departments and agencies of government.

It was also organized with the aim of equipping some of the cabinet members without public service background, with the rules and knowledge of public office.

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Additional pictures credit: Hon. Toke Benson