Ambode
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Chuks Udo Okonta
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on Lagosians to avoid crime, drugs and other unwholesome conducts and join hands with his administration to take the state to lofty heights.
He made this call, while speaking at the 2017 Community Day Ceremony held att 57 Centres in Lagos State.
The Governor who was represented by Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson said the struggle for development has not been easy.
He noted that Community Day has been set aside to take stock of the journey they have travelled so far in their determination to bring development to the neighbourhoods.
Ambode stressed that it is a titanic effort to achieve gigantic dreams; it is becoming conscious of the need to liberate our communities from an oppressive problem keeping us from achieving our well-being.
He said: “For the people living on the island of Itu-agan, it is discovering that we are losing school children to boat capsizes and taking a decision to put an end to it by building a school on the island for our children. For the people of Lagasa, it is realising that we are losing our pregnant wives on the road because the hospitals are too far and building a health centre to solve the problem. For Afacoda cda, it is realising that lives and properties are no longer safe and building a police post for greater protection.
“We can go on and on to document how communities in Lagos state are taking control of their lives and shaping a future for themselves and their children. Many of these records are models of gallantry, organisational acumen, communal solidarity, prudence and sacrifice. These are the leadership values we are celebrating today as we salute the leaders in our various communities for rising up to the challenge and making history.
“These testimonies teach us to learn from the people and emulate their industry.
If communities without means of coercion can collectively persuade themselves to build roads and police posts; if communities, without firing a shot, are able to resolve to finance the construction of health centres and community centres, they teach us the values of independence and responsibility. Our administration is proud that our decision to revive the communities as a critical stakeholder in governance and the conscious effort to integrate them into government has inspired community leaders and boosted the morale of our people.”
He added that on this occasion of the 2017 community day, they have further decentralised the event to upscale popular participation and reverse the age-old tradition of seeing power from above. In the best spirit of democracy, the power of the people comes from the base.
He congratulated traditional rulers, the CDA Chairmen, the members of the community development committees and other stakeholders for holding the grassroots firm, stating that the peace and safety that we witness in Lagos today has been the result of their co-operation.
