Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos have adhered to the
request of Christians in the state for a Christian governor in
2015. The candidate of choice is Ayo Gbeleyi, the present
Commissioner of Finance in the administration of
quintessential Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
The decision to present a Christian candidate emerged after
due consultations with eminent Christian leaders and clerics
who have promised to mobilise other faithfuls to vote enmasse
for the party if a Christian emerges as gubernatorial candidate
in the state. The leadership of the All Progressives Congress
after a thorough search have found a willing and reliable
Christian candidate in Ayo Gbeleyi, a thoroughbred
professional known for his exceptional brilliance and
intelligence.
Since the searchlight has beamed on Gbeleyi, Christian
leaders are delighted that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has
not only heeded to their demands but responded accordingly.
They had argued that Moslems have successively governed
the state since the inception of democracy. It is just fair and
equitable to allow a Christian to govern Lagos, given the fact
that succesive governors of the state since 1999 that
democracy returned have been Moslems. Besides, they argued
that the three Senatorial seats are occupied by Moslems.
The call for a Christian governor, observers of politics in the
state reasoned is not to ignite any religious crisis but to ensure
balance and equity. Observers opined that the efforts of
successive administrations in the state in the areas of
governance, accountability and reliability are not and should
not be exclusive of faith or religion. A thorougbred candidate
like Gbeleyi, they posited, is equally suitable for the exalted
post. With his pedigree and insights in public service, finance,
procurement, constrtuction, project management, etc, he is,
no doubt, a round peg in a round hole.
It could be recalled that he singlehandedly planned and made
a major breakthrough with his well-thoughout Public Private
Partnership (PPP) initiative in Lagos. While he served as the
Director-General of the parastatal, he also doubled as the
Senior Adviser to the Executive Governor Babatunde Raji
Fashola on the project. Overtime, his visionary leadership
amid pressure, necessity and even adversity on several
projects in his purview yielded unprecedented positivity and
growth that sooner than ever, Lagos becomes an envy spot in
PPP.
Commendable is his ability to work seamlessly with the
Ministries Department Agencies (MDAs) to realise and
institutionalise Lagos of our dream and the government strides
to make the state a Megacity is achieved. The beauty and
elegance we see in the services of the Bus Rapid Transit,
(BRT), Lekki-Epe Toll Concession, the Independent Power
Plant, Oluwole and Tejuoso Market Developments, Adeniran
Ogunsanya Ultra Modern Shopping and Retail Commercial
Centres are some of the lofty ideas he has shared and executed
with the support of the purposeful leadership in the saddle of
governance in the state.
Asiwaju after wide consultations with all interest groups and
political blocs in the state is optimistic that Gbeleyi with his
background can effortlessly manage the internally generated
revenue of over N18billion of the state aand continue in the
stride of previous governnments to make Lagos an enviable
commercial base. It takes a visionary leader to fish out a
promising successor. Asiwaju Tinubu, from all ramifications
have proven that he knows one when he sees one. His ability
and confidence in his choice of BRF as his successor has
proven his insightful leadership. He will not go wrong with
Ayo Gbeleyi.
According to reliable sources, Gbeleyi, in readiness for the
task ahead, has not only received the nod of formidable
stakeholders in politics, he has built a financial war chest in
excess of N8 billion to prosecute his electionering campaign.
His readiness from all fronts, our sources hinted, gives
Asiwaju a strong conviction that he is the man for the job and
other contenders are pretenders. He has also built a formidable
media team to actualise his dream.
For Gbeleyi, it has been a calculated rise to the top. His recent
appointment on the recommendation of his immediate past
boss, the former Finance Commissioner, Hon. Tokunbo
Abiru, the express approval by the Executive Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola and the state's Assembly speak
volume of his character and disposition towards public
service. With his record of service, wisdom and support from
all stakeholders and the people of Lagos State, Hon. Ayo
Gbeleyi is poised to steer the ship of the state to greater
heights.
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