Lagos 2023: Sanwo-Olu kicks off campaign at Ehingbeti Summit, says some opponents are noisemakers
…Launches Lagos 30-year Dev’t Plan 2022-2052
…Signs State Wealth Fund, Civil bills
By Moses Adeniyi
When it’s time, men would be separated from toddlers” was the view of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the closing Ceremony of the 9th Ehingbeti Summit on the contest of the State’s gubernatorial election in 2023.
Beyond kicking off a blueprint of economic fortune for another 30-year journey for Lagos at the 9th Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti), Sanwo-Olu gave key spotlights on the political path necessary to fulfilling the pillars of the growth trajectory.
Sanwo-Olu who, on Wednesday, kicked off his campaign at the 9th Ehingbeti Summit in Lagos, confidently said he is the best among the governorship candidates in the State based on his administration’s track records in the last three and half years in line with the THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos, describing some of those contesting against him in the March 11, 2023 governorship election in Lagos State as ‘noisemakers.’
The Governor during the event launched the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, a 30-year plan from 2022 to 2052, to chart a growth path for the State.
Also, he signed Lagos State Wealth Fund Bill and Lagos State Civil Bill.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government and Del York Group for Lagos Film City as well as the MoU between the State Government and Siemens Energy for Electronics Technician training with Siemens Energy.
Speaking on the 2023 governorship elections in Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu said he believed the people of Lagos State will do the right thing in the coming election by re-electing him.
He said, “Today is the day that INEC officially flagged off campaigns for governorship and House of Assembly elections. And there is no better time for me to do my official flag-off than at an economic summit like this where we are talking about our city, our people and Greater Lagos. What we are talking about is real; people can feel and they can see it.
“Some people can come here to claim anything. Some candidates would go about and make a lot of noise. They don’t even know what governance is all about. We have done a lot and people can feel it. People know this is a government that works for them.
“It is not about us; it is really to create that enabling environment for them (the citizens) to do well. Lagos State has witnessed prosperity in the last three and half years even in the COVID environment and that is the trajectory in which we want to continue. So, tell the noisemakers that after the noise, there would be calm and Lagosians will truly understand what we are talking about.”
Speaking on why he deserved to be re-elected, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “For me, there can never be any better campaign; there can never be an any better conversation and there can never be any better means of showing and showcasing what this government has done for the past three and half years than what you all have seen here in the last two days.
“I want to tell all Lagosians that it is as clear as day and night. Of course, there are a lot of people on the bill. There are a lot of noisemakers on the bill. There are a lot of other people that don’t even know their right from the left on the bill.
“I know there are a lot of other people that are out and shouting. Let them shout, but after the shouting, there would be calmness because indeed you Lagosians know the right thing to do. And you will do the right thing by voting for us and re-elect us to continue with the great work that we’re doing.”
Discussions at the Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti) 2022 was slated to centre on the 30-year Development Plan, as captured in the theme “Lagos 2022-2052: Charting the Paths to Sustainable Socioeconomic Growth, The Future is a Hope We all Have.”
Recall that the disclosure of the blueprint for another 30-year journey in pursuit of physical development, social growth and economic prosperity, was made known by Governor Sanwo-Olu in June, 2022.
While speaking on the plan to business leaders and the organised private sector at an interactive meeting, Sanwo-Olu had said the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, will be officially rolled out at the 9th Economic Summit of the State – Ehingbeti.
The 30-year plan, according to him, was developed with clear objectives from four strategic dimensions aimed at positioning the State to achieve its vision.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, said the summit had offered Lagos a better deal in growth prospects, as the State harnessed robust conversations with key private sector players.
Egube confirmed the State Government had implemented 210 of the 222 resolutions reached in the past eight editions of the economic summit, adding that the engagement with the private sector had helped improve accountability in governance.
The summit attendees include members of the State Executive Council, current and past elected public office holders in Lagos, captains of industry, business leaders, diplomats, entrepreneurs and investors.
