Strong indications have
emerged that the
leadership of All
Progressives Congress in
Lagos have acquiesced to
the request of Christians
in the state for a Christian
governor in 2015. The
candidate of choice is Ayo
Gbeleyi, the present
Commissioner of Finance
in the administration of
quintessential Governor
Babatunde Fashola.
The decision to present a
Christian candidate
emerged after due
consultations with
eminent Christian leaders
and clerics who have
promised to mobilise
other faithfuls to vote
enmasse for the party if a
Christian emerges as
gubernatorial candidate in
the state. The leadership
of the APC, after a
thorough search, have
found a willing and
reliable Christian
candidate in Ayo Gbeleyi,
a thoroughbred
professional known for his
exceptional brilliance and
intelligence.
Since the searchlight has
beamed on Gbeleyi,
Christian leaders are
delighted that Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has
not only heeded to their
demands but responded
accordingly.
They had argued that
Moslems have
successively governed the
state since the inception
of democracy. It is just
fair and equitable to allow
a Christian to govern
Lagos, given the fact that
successive governors of
the state since 1999 that
democracy returned have
been Moslems. Besides,
they argued that the three
Senatorial seats are
occupied by Moslems.
The call for a Christian
governor, observers of
politics in the state
reasoned is not to ignite
any religious crisis but to
ensure balance and
equity.
Observers opined that the
efforts of successive
administrations in the
state in areas of
governance,
accountability and
reliability are not and
should not be exclusive of
faith or religion.
A thoroughbred candidate
like Gbeleyi, they posited,
is equally suitable for the
exalted post. With his
pedigree and insights in
public service, finance,
procurement, construction,
project management, etc,
he is, no doubt, a round
peg in a round hole. It
could be recalled that he
single-handedly planned
and made a major
breakthrough with his
well-thoughout Public
Private Partnership (PPP)
initiative in Lagos. While
he served as the Director-
General of the parastatal,
he also doubled as the
Senior Adviser to the
Executive Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola
on the project.
Over time, his visionary
leadership amid pressure,
necessity and even
adversity on several
projects in his purview
yielded unprecedented
positivity and growth that
sooner than ever, Lagos
becomes an envy spot in
PPP. Commendable is his
ability to work seamlessly
with the Ministries
Department Agencies
(MDAs) to realise and
institutionalise Lagos of
our dream and the
government strides to
make the state a Megacity
is achieved.
The beauty and elegance
we see in the services of
the Bus Rapid Transit,
(BRT), Lekki-Epe Toll
Concession, the
Independent Power Plant,
Oluwole and Tejuoso
Market Developments,
Adeniran Ogunsanya Ultra
Modern Shopping and
Retail Commercial Centres
are some of the lofty
ideas he has shared and
executed with the support
of the purposeful
leadership in the saddle of
governance in the state.
Asiwaju Tinubu, after wide
consultations with all
interest groups and
political blocs in the state,
is optimistic that Gbeleyi
with his background can
effortlessly manage the
internally generated
revenue of over N18billion
of the state and continue
in the stride of previous
governments to make
Lagos an enviable
commercial base.
It takes a visionary leader
to fish out a promising
successor.
Asiwaju, from all
ramifications have proven
that he knows one when
he sees one. His ability
and confidence in his
choice of BRF as his
successor has proven his
insightful leadership. He
will not go wrong with
Ayo Gbeleyi.
According to reliable
sources, Gbeleyi, in
readiness for the task
ahead, has not only
received the nod of top
ans formidable
stakeholders in politics, he
has built a financial war
chest to prosecute his
electionering campaign.
His readiness from all
fronts, our sources hinted,
gives Asiwaju a strong
conviction that he is the
man for the job and other
contenders are
pretenders. He has also
built a formidable media
team to actualise his
dream.
For Gbeleyi, it has been a
calculated rise to the top.
His recent appointment on
the recommendation of
his immediate past boss,
the former Finance
Commissioner, Hon.
Tokunbo Abiru, the
express approval by the
Executive Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola
and the state's Assembly
speak volume of his
character and disposition
towards public service.
With his record of
service, wisdom and
support from all
stakeholders and the
people of Lagos State,
Hon. Ayo Gbeleyi is
poised to steer the ship of
the state to greater
heights.
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