By Dayo Benson, Political Editor

Princess Adenrele Adeniran- Ogunsanya, is Secretary to Lagos State government. In this interview with Vanguard  she spoke on the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, its achievements and challenges, saying that with his performance so far,  the governor deserves a second term. Excerpts:

How has the Fashola administration been like?
I think it has been a privilege because I think that the present administration is one that has recorded so much progress. It is an administration people would want to be part of and I think I’m part of an administration that has performed. It gives me great privilege to have worked and to be working with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

You talked about performance, which area would you want to put your finger on as what this government has done in almost three years now?
I think that there is hardly an area that this government has not touched. This administration realises that it is not only infrastructure. Services have improved, so many good things have happened. Only recently, I was near where a fire incident occurred and in a matter of a few minutes, the fire fighters where there and they had water and I felt very proud that things were beginning to work.

We shouldn’t be singing the praises of this administration because one has to be modest. Really and truly, if we see the truth, the truth needs to be told. There is improvement in education, up to the growth  of the child, the change in orientation, trying to revive good morals, patriotism, all these things make a good society.

There is improvement on workers’ lot, betterment of life in retirement, that people can own their own home after retiring to give them some fulfilment for having worked so hard over the years. You know, it is like a complete renaissance that has been taking place. It is not everything that is in the newspapers but new ideas are coming in.  We’re susceptible to ideas and within the council too, we don’t lack ideas. So, the achievements are great.

As I was telling you a moment ago that some times I don’t often get the opportunity to drive around as often as I should do but recently I did and it really gave me a lot of insight. Even though I know that this is taking place in this area but it offered me opportunity of actuality being there and seeing the reality is amazing.

But people are saying that his developmental projects are concentrated in Lagos and that in the rural areas there are still complaints here and there of lack of pipe-borne water, bad roads, absence of good schools and all that.What do you say about these?
Well, we can’t do everything in one day. But I don’t truly feel there is any area development hasn’t taken place. From one area to another, the needs are different. But I don’t think there is any area within the divisions that have not been touched. Indeed, a lot of roads are to be done and we’re looking into them. This year is a year full of hard work and His Excellency continuously reminds everybody that we’re not slowing down because the elections are coming and that we need to consolidate some of the things that are on ground to see their completion. We’re not saying that we are not open to criticism, we take it in good gate.

We’ve not told anyone that we’re perfect. But by and large, we’ve tried to be as fair as possible. And I said, the needs are different but I don’t think there is an area that is not touched. There are certain things like material care in every division, there are signs of improvement there in the health sector, in educational sector, so many initiatives are going on and things will definitely change.

I told you about the emergency facilities and security has been top on our list. Even in the welfare of our staff in Lagos State, adjustments are being made to create room for a better system of service. But it is all part of creating a society that is viable, that is competitive and given the opportunity with the hard work ahead, I’m sure that the people of Lagos will see more developments and be happy.

Recently, two newspapers, specifically Vanguard and Guardian, named Fashola as man of the year. How does it make you feel?
(Laughs) it makes me feel extremely proud and because I am part of this administration, I can’t blow my trumpet too loud. But certainly he deserves it. I’ll always say I’m not a sycophant and if he didn’t deserve it, I’ll just keep quiet. I’m not in lack of what to say but really and truly, I think that there is justice in making him a Man of the Year.

The Fashola you have worked with in almost three years, how would you describe him? Is he a politician or is he a technocrat?
Aah! I think he is a combination of both. And I say this because he worked with Asiwaju and there is no way he would not have learnt because you know he is a brilliant young man. He is  not forward. He takes in the situation to learn and so if anyone would say after his third year in government, with the experience as Chief of Staff and you say he doesn’t know what to do? If he takes his time and he listens to his elders, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know what to do. And that is the way I look at things. And another thing is that he is very, very compassionate, he cares about people, he cares about people working with him and he doesn’t play with health matters of any of us.

He is firm but he has a good heart. And I know that and I have confidence and I know that the man I work for is very compassionate and he doesn’t want anything to happen to any of us. And that’s how I look at him, maybe because I’m quiet and I watch.

Recently, there was rumour of a rift between him and the House of Assembly. There was rumour of a plot to impeach him and this have been refuted over and over again.  And of course that of him and Asiwaju has been refuted. But this kind of thoughts, what do you make of it?
I think that in any democracy or in any organisation where there are people there will be all kinds of rumours and intriques and pettiness going on. It is only part of a human part. Let me tell what I know because I cannot talk in a national newspaper of what I don’t know. I know for the three years I worked with Governor Fashola, I’ve never heard him say a bad word.

He hasn’t done that. He will slip if he is not a grateful person or he is not respectful. You can’t be with somebody for three years and you have not say something bad with all this that is going on. Secondly, I believe that Asiwaju is a very accomplished politician and very astute person. To my own ears, I haven’t heard Asiwaju say anything nasty in my presence. So, I can’t sit down here and say categorically that there are differences. But if there are that’s a home issue as I look at it. But what is clear in my mind, is that I can’t be with a boss that I am not loyal to or I can’t have confidence in. And I have confidence in my boss and I’m loyal to him and for me as a Lagosian, my greatest dream is that he does a second term.

Even if I go into retirement, I’ll still practice my politics and for me, my dream is to see him do a second term and I’ll support him 100 percent. On the other hand, Asiwaju Tinubu brought me into AC. I came and I have not had course to regret being in AC. Asiwaju has been good to me. He is my leader as far as AC is concerned. But my boss is my boss. As I said, if I’m not loyal to him and I don’t have confidence in him and I don’t want to see him run a second term, then I shouldn’t be in his cabinet. For me, I’m 100 per cent for Fashola but I do respect my leader.