Politics, threats as Ambode, Okorocha, Amosun leave

It was a mixture of colour, emotions and, of course, politics yesterday as some governors handed over to their successors  ahead of today’s inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and 29 governors.

Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) handed over to their successors yesterday.

Their Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, was pulled out – military style – of the Government House, Owerri. So was Amosun, who railed endlessly against his critics.

In Lagos, Ambode handed over the baton to Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat at a brief private ceremony at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, were, until today, Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect.

Sanwo-Olu told reporters after taking the baton: “We had a private handing over with the governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, and we are happy with what he told us. We are excited with the conversation and thought we had with him. We are looking forward to the inauguration ceremony tomorrow (today).”

He assured all that governance will begin immediately after the inauguration.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the conversation with the governor was more of advice.  “What we need to work with are documents. And we have the right documents to work with and we will take it up from there,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who accompanied Sanwo-Olu, said: “Behind closed door few minutes ago, the governor did a private handover in his office to the governor-elect.

“He has also handed over a load of documents that symbolises the tenure of his administration. He has also handed over a document containing activities of the previous administration, spanning 12 years.”

In a farewell state broadcast early yesterday, Ambode said all the decisions, plans, programmes and policies of his administration in the last four years were taken in the best interest of Lagos and for common good of all.  The driving force behind the programmes executed was lifting more people out of poverty and making every part of the state economically viable and livable.

“For this administration, policies, programmes and projects aimed at lifting more of our people out of poverty and making every part of the state safe, accessible and economically viable were always the priority; the driving force behind all our decisions and plans.

“A few of our policies might have been unpopular but these were decisions taken with the best interest of our state in mind. With the benefit of hindsight, maybe we could have done some things differently but our intention was always clear, for the good of Lagos.”

He praised Lagosians for their constructive feedback on some of the policies of his administration which, according to him, helped to surmount challenges. It has been a remarkable journey to serve the state, the outgoing governor noted.

REad also: Fasanmi felicitates with Buhari

Ambode said: “With a heart full of gratitude, I address you today for the last time as your governor. It has been an honour and a privilege of a lifetime to serve you for the last four years.

“It has been a remarkable journey which has had a lasting impact in my life and I want to thank all Lagosians for the experience of these last four years.

“As it was in the beginning when we visited every single corner of this state, listening to you and asking for your votes, I have felt the power of your support, your collective energy and the endless goodwill that has propelled us to achieve many things.”

Describing Lagos as a place where dreams come true and a home for everyone, Ambode said it was the duty of all residents to continue to ensure that the state remained the true centre of opportunities and growth for all.

“From being just a commercial centre, our state has now become a prime destination for tourism, sports, entertainment and culture. And the future is even brighter with more exciting prospects and possibilities. In the near future, with God on our side, Lagos will take its rightful place in the comity of major city-states of the world.

“Fellow Lagosians, it has been a remarkable journey – one in which we have pushed boundaries and moved our state to another level; a journey in which we have transformed many aspects of our state and set the ball rolling in other sectors. But there is still a lot more to be done.

“But it is a job not for only the government; it is a responsibility for us all. In Lagos, everyone counts and we all have a part to play.”

Appreciating the people for supporting successive administrations, the outgoing governor urged all stakeholders to support the incoming Sanwo-Olu administration, saying such would be in the best interest of all.

“By tomorrow (today), there will be a change of guard in our state. I will be stepping down and a new governor will be sworn in. We will have a new governor and a new administration with the same objective; achieving a better Lagos.

“Those who have had the privilege of serving our dear state in different capacities, especially as governors, owe their successes to your prayers, understanding and support. The same courtesy and cooperation that you gave to my predecessors from the first elected governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, to our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), to my humble self, I urge you to extend same to the next administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and ensure that he succeeds. It is in our best interest to do so.”

The governor also thanked President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the executive, the legislature, the judiciary; elders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), council administrations and security agencies, among others, for supporting his administration.

He said: “To my wife, Bolanle and the children, who have had to endure many days and nights without me; I thank you for your love and steadfastness. You will continue to be my pillar of strength.

“To all Lagosians; for your love, compassion, cooperation and support, I am eternally grateful; my love to you always.”

In Ogun, Amosun handed over the reins of power to Prince Dapo Abiodun, declaring that he had achieved more for the Gateway State than his two predecessors – Aremo Segun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel –  put together.

The handover, which took place at the Oke – Mosan Governor’s Office, about 35 minutes after Amosun had been pulled out in a motorcade, was performed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa.

Deputy Governor-elect Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele stood in for Abiodun to receive the handing over documents, comprising an Interim Report, an Audited Financial Statement of the state as at December 2018, a document on Homeowners Charter and another detailing the affairs of the state.

Adeoluwa, who chaired the Transition Committee, lauded Mrs. Salako-Oyedele and her team for their understanding and patience for the period the interface between the two groups lasted.

The deputy governor-elect assured him that Abiodun’s administration would study the documents to ascertain the true position of things, adding that they had expected an interim report to come from the state government prior to the handover but that did not happen.

She said the out-going administration had imposed on them some homework in respect of the documents.

Mrs. Salako-Oyedele also declared that the new administration would review all contracts on uncompleted projects to determine what needs to be salvaged in the interest of the people.

She said: “I was expecting an interim report that we can examine now. But it is as if you want to give us some homework to do and I can assure you we are up to the task.

“Our pledge to the people of Ogun State is that they will continue to enjoy good governance. Our administration will review on-going projects.”

Beating his chest after the motorcade parade, Amosun rated himself above his predecessors, saying that in whatever section of the state that Osoba and Daniel could point one achievement of theirs, he would cite 10 of his own in such location. His critics, he said, are  criticising him out of “envy”.

Speaking with reporters in Isheri, a border community with Lagos, where he inaugurated 600 flats of two and three-bedroom flats at MTR Boulevard, Amosun said that posterity would judge him.

“They are just envious of our achievements and they are saying I’m the worst governor and I said thank you, people need worst governors like me to redefine the state and the nation. If everybody has been doing this as their bit, Ogun State would not be like this.

“God has been with us, even Mr. President is asking that where are we getting the money to do all these projects. I’m happy about all the projects that we have done.

“I know posterity will judge all of us. I’m happy and I’m at peace with myself and with my creator.

“So, when people sit down in one corner and talk, I have told them that I should not be punished for the ‘sin’ that is committed to make Abeokuta the capital of Ogun State. Abeokuta is for all of us. It is not as if what they are saying is correct.

“They say I am only the governor of Abeokuta. I am happy to be governor of Abeokuta. And if I have to come again and again, I would want to be classified like that (Governor of Abeokuta). Ask them – people have come before me, people that say they have been governor of this state.

“If they say they were governor of everywhere, let them come and point to what they have done that is better than what we have done.”

He promised to doff his cap for any administration that could implement the projects he did at twice their costs.

“Any of our projects that they are able to do it twice the cost we did it, I will salute them because I know what I am saying. We worked our ass out,” Amosun said.

He went on: “Indeed, we have what we called Ogun Standard, using minimum input plus efforts to get maximum output; that is what we have done. So, we walked our talk. In Ogun East axis, we have four flyovers that they are using.”

At the Imo State Government House, it was mixed feelings as Okorocha vacated the Governor’s Lodge after a colourful ceremony.

Political appointees and aides succumbed to emotion and wept openly as they witnessed the dramatic pulling out of the governor and the lowering of the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Security agents had a hectic time controlling the crowd of supporters who thronged the Government House to catch a glimpse of Okorocha on the day his tenancy expired at the Lodge as governor.

Okorocha was escorted in a long motorcade to his private residence in Spibat, a sprawling area of Owerri, the state capital.

In his remarks, Okorocha told the audience that he never for once broke the laws as being alleged in some quarters.

He said: “I have not broken the law; I only bend to achieve results. I do things the other way and I get results. I remember in 2011 when darkness ravaged the land and the people cannot go out for fear of being kidnapped, but today, Imo is a secured state.

“So, I can say that I came, I saw and I conquered.  I am not here to make speeches on my achievements but I want to tell you about Imo State that I want to hand over. I encourage you to support the new government in power.

“Let me announce to my political enemies, they should stop because they have no justifiable reason to fight me. Rather, if they think they can fight me, let them demonstrate it in the pace of work. But let me announce again and again, I’m a lover of peace, but as I work out of this Government House, let none fight me and I won’t fight anyone. Governorship is a shield that covers every personality that is in office, but when you remove this shield or this mask off my face, you will see the real Rochas”.