By Dapo Akinrefon

THE presentation of three books on the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has put on the frontburner his years of stewardship. To admirers, Fashola’s years of stewardship remains a point of reference for the future generation. The occasion was a public unveiling of three books written to highlight landmark moments of Fashola’s administration.

From left:Olori Titilola Akiolu, Mr. Dapo Adeniyi, Co-Author, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser on medial to Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos, and Authors of the Book, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Guest Honour, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, Chief Judge of Lagos state, Alhaja Lateefah Okunnun, former deputy governor of Lagos state, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, Chief of staff to Senate president and representing the senate president and Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Ogun state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, representing Governor of Ogun state, during the Presentation of Three New titles Books, The Great Leap, In Bold Print and The Lagos Blow Dawn in the Honour of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos state by Hakeem Bello, at Mosum centre, Lagos Island recently.

The Great Leap, containing  Fashola’s selected speeches as the Governor of Lagos State  and  In Bold Print, a collection of his popular quotes, were edited by his former Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, and  The Lagos Blowdown,  co-written by Mr. Bello and another seasoned writer, Mr. Dapo Adeniyi, document the globally acknowledged demolition of the 21-storey Bank of Industry building.

Even after leaving office, Fashola seems to have burst into similar limelight as people declared their appreciation of having witnessed such an administration during their lifetime.

The notable political players from the state present were immediate political associates of  the former governor, former governorship aspirant, Mr. Supo Sashore, former deputy Governor, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, former commissioner for finance in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Edun, Senator Munirudeen Muse, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade and Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the spokesman of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Also present were the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Mr Gbenga Makanjuola, who represented Senate President Bukola Saraki, Mr Lanre Babalola, Jide Sanwoolu, Rotimi Oyeko, among others.

Booklaunch

A former Vice Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN,Mr. Fola Adeola, who chaired the book launch, noted that the true essence of the occasion was that the numerous personalities present did so not because of what they could gain but because of their commitment to Fashola as a friend, relation or acquaintance.

Adeola, also chairman of Fate Foundation, said there “are times in an environment in a nation, which certain things happen that do not happen often. For example, in football since we all watch football, there was a time that Pele happened. And after a long time, Maradona happened and then after another long time, Messi and Ronaldo are happening.” He, was however, quick to add that “but they do not happen every time. I am happy that in my own time Fashola happened. Fashola happened and it is my prayer that we do not have to wait for too long for another Fashola to happen.”

Indeed,  Fashola’s  has become a household name both in Nigeria and outside the country. Testimonials of the former governor was brought to the fore as his predecessor and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also paid glowing tribute to Fashola. Represented by the state’s former Commissioner on Education, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Tinubu expressed  exuberance  that the event was another step that would reflect on what he referred to as “performance auditing” of what the former governor had done in the last eight years.

Citing the former governor’s achievements in office as a result of high wired political engineering, Tinubu said “as I used to tell you anytime we chatted that whatever you do today is an insurance for tomorrow. Your surrender value has been further energized by today’s event.” Commending his (Fashola) ability to  “intellectualize properly”, Tinubu said “he has made fundamental impact on the lives of Lagosians in the last eight years.”

Besides, he noted that it “is one thing to be determined and another thing to think right. Your Excellency, your ability to intellectualize, your rugged determination to succeed has been well recognized by all. You have demonstrated the ability to combine the two very effectively to reach your goal in the service of the state.”

Also, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, represented by Otunba Ashiru compared the challenges encountered by Fashola in his effort to improve infrastructure in Lagos to what late Chief Obafemi Awolowo faced when he was the Premier of the Western Region. In an effort not to blow his trumpet, Mr Fashola spoke less about his term in office.

Rather, in his comments, Fashola chose the occasion to remind the country of the need for credible census statistics and expressed regrets that in the life of the nation, her leaders have consistently failed to conduct an accurate headcount. Fashola said given the fact that those who conducted the last headcount in the country have owned up that the figures were falsified, the onus was now on the nation to ensure that next year’s exercise would be right for the nation to make progress.

The former governor, who described the period of the blow down as a very challenging moment, thanked God that in spite of the expectations for the worst, the implosion was successful, recalling that the most tense moment was the ten seconds to the final blow down when he was handed a walkie-talkie and given the options to count down to the go ahead or abort the exercise.

Protectionof property

He said: “I still lack enough words to describe how almost surreal those last ten seconds were. I am sure that if anyone recorded my voice at the time it must have been shaky. But indeed go on we must because we were propelled, not by fear but by a larger cause to save human life and protect property,” he said.

On his relationship with the author and his former Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Fashola, who recalled that their paths crossed in 2006 when his political journey to the Government House began, explained that they met through a friend at a time when he had no clue as to how to deal with the media, pointing out that after their first interaction in his office as Chief of Staff, the former Special Adviser came back after a week to offer his service to him.

Describing his Special Adviser as diligent and dedicated, the former Governor, who said the three books were about events that took place during his tenure as Governor, said, “It may be tempting to think that this day truly belongs to me. Regrettably it does not. It belongs to Hakeem Bello who painstakingly documented all of these for us. It belongs also to Dapo Adeniyi who worked with him to deliver all these.’’