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Culture of Excellence in the Centre of Excellence: The Tokunbo Wahab Charge

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When in 2019, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu appointed Tokunbo Wahab as the Special Adviser on Education in Lagos State Government, those who know him felt the appointment wasn’t as befitting, as they believed he has more capacity for even bigger roles. Little did they know that it was a good thing for him. Crawl before walking; precept upon precept.

He turned that position into a high performing role. Among many other achievements is the addition of 2 new state-owned universities to the tertiary institutions by the State government – Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

It was against this background, that after a landslide victory in the 2023 election, giving a second term to the Sanwo-olu Administration based on numerous achievements of the Governor and his team, Tokunbo Wahab was named the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources.

Many who know him well could not but hail the Governor’s choice and appointment, believing this as a more befitting role for the Honourable Commisioner. He came on board fully prepared, and in one week, Lagos felt him. A new Sheriff is in town.

Lagos, the most boisterous city in Nigeria, the 5th largest economy in Africa, and the most populated City in Africa has its accolades and myriad of challenges.

Chief amongst these challenges is that of the Environment. Flooding, Dirts, Waste Disposal and Management, Noise Pollution, Environmental Degradation are key issues the Lagos populace deals with on a daily basis.

However, the main cause of all these is the “Culture of Impunity”, that ‘I don’t care attitude’ and sense of irresponsibility by the citizenry.

Tokunbo was undaunted by any of these. It is therefore instructive to note that in the very first week of assuming office, he unveiled a vision “towards a cleaner and greener lagos”, and he set to work with a clarity of purpose and deep sense of urgency.

He engaged his team and Agencies within his Ministry, identifying the challenges, the hotspots,blindspots, and the usual suspects as they set out on this daunting task of cleaning up lagos.

Firstly the markets were visited to ensure cleanliness, and those found wanting in keeping to the environmental fidelity were shut. Markets like Alayabiagba, Ile Epo, Owode Onirin, Alaba International Market, Mile 2 fruits market, Ajah Market etc. were either self-censoring or sanctioned.

Today, the fear of the ministry and its officials is the beginning of wisdom for markets, lounges, religious centres and environmental offenders.

Today, markets and estates are using their initiatives to ensure a clean and habitable environment even before the visit of officials.

At some point when some zealots in one particular market went on the Social Media with spurious allegations that certain officials were demanding bribes to reopen their market, the Honourable Commissioner challenged them to name the culprits if there were such.

Keen Observers knew immediately that this was a trumped up lie; those who know, can vouch without wincing that the new Commissioner cannot be bribed or bought.

With what? they’ll be quick to ask. God has blessed him beyond his imaginations, and this silent philanthropist has been adding value to numerous people’s lives across the country for years even before finding himself in public service.

This “Do Good” Lawyer has been a phenomenal personality who has been blessing thousands of people via Education, Health, Legal and other supports from Epe to Ogbomosho, Lagos to Borno and across the landscapes.

If you will name 20 performing political appointees in Nigeria today, Tokunbo Wahab will stand tall amongst them; if you name 10 appointees or Govt official that has ever served in Lagos State since 1999, he will be a leading figure; and if you are required to name one topmost performer in the current Sanwo-olu Administration, he will take the day.

Lagos is wearing a new look right now. The “Culture of Impunity” is changing across locations with his war against street trading, dirty markets, open defecation, etc. amid his flood prevention drive, water management, environmental protection, and several other initiatives. The ‘culture’ of impunity has been replaced with a new ‘Culture ‘ of Excellence befitting Lagos which prides herself as the “Centre of Excellence”.

This is one appointment that best describes the saying, ‘a square peg in a square hole’.

It is believed that the acknowledgement of his achievements in the last few months will serve as a call to greater service and a testament that Lagosians recognise performance and will reward it. Kudos to this high performer and ‘Congratulations’ to Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu for his commitment to exceptional performance. Lagos will not forget you.

Sola Fajobi is a Content Creator, Media & Entertainment Entrepreneur. He resides in Lagos.

Politics

Edo PDP opposes suspension of LG bosses by state assembly, says ‘It’s unconstitutional’

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo says the suspension of all the chairpersons and their deputies in the 18 LGAs of the state is “unconstitutional”.

The chairpersons and their deputies were suspended on Tuesday by the Edo state house of assembly for two months over alleged misappropriation of funds.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their LGs to the state government.

In a statement, Anthony Aziegbemi, chair of the PDP in Edo, said the “illegal” suspension is a disregard to a supreme court decision that affirms the autonomy and independence of local governments.

“How can the governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the constitution and are not subordinates of the governor, the state assembly, or any other arm of government?,” he said.

“We are also aware that the chairmen and their vices were not even given the opportunity to be heard in their detence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped up charges, in total disregard to the constitution.

“We want to restate that the constitution remains supreme, and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

“The speaker of the Edo state house of assembly and the entire assembly have clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action and we urge them to immediately reverse its decision, in respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.”

Aziegbemi said the suspended officials should report to their councils on Wednesday and carry on with their normal duties.

Also speaking on the issue, Anthony Ehilebo, a PDP chieftain, said Okpebholo has no legal backing to request the financial records of the LGAs.

“In fact, the governor and the assembly members are in contempt of the supreme court,” Ehilebo said when he appeared on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

“The purported suspension of the local government chairmen by the state assembly is as absurd as the president asking the national assembly to suspend state governors because they refused to submit statements of accounts to him.

“This is a witch hunt. The LGA chairmen are all PDP members.”

The lawyer said the suspension “is unknown to law and will be ignored”.

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Politics

Ex-sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi resigns from PDP

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Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports and youth development, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He disclosed his intention to resign in a letter dated December 16 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ubadawaki, Kwara state.

Abdullahi confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

The ex-minister also said he is yet to decide which political platform to pitch tent with.

“The decision of what to do and where to go will be taken in the future that’s left to God,” he said.

In the resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of reflection and introspection.

“I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the letter reads.

“I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time.

“Mr. Chairman, please permit me to express, through you, my gratitude to the leadership of the party for the opportunities that I have had to serve the state and the country on its platform, and for the great moments we have shared.”

Abdullahi was the PDP candidate for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023. He lost the race to Salihu Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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Politics

PDP debunks inviting Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has not extended an invitation to former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidency on its platform in the 2027 election.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, deputy spokesperson of the country’s main opposition party, said no ticket has been issued to the former president.

Abdullahi said the party has many eligible people who can contest for the presidency on its platform, adding that a recent interview he granted was interpreted to mean that Jonathan he asked to run on the PDP platform.

“The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true,” he said.

“What happened is this, I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues.

“But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency.

“I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left.

“So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.”

The deputy spokesperson said the ticket would be given to someone who has shown interest in running for the presidency.

Jonathan, then in the PDP, lost the presidential election to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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