Who are you voting for in the April 14th and 21st general election? If you'd asked me that question about a month ago, I would have told you absolutely NO ONE! But then three weeks ago someone told me my vote is my power in having a say on who governs me. If I don't vote and the wrong person gets voted in, do I have a right to complain? No! So I decided to vote, but vote for who? Because I wasn't initially interested in voting, I didn't take any particular interest in any of the candidates vying for the Lagos State Governorship seat, so I didnt know the best candidate of the lot to vote for. To get the right person, who will do as he has promised, I came up with a list of all the candidates, did a background check on them, asked questions, read their, bios, manifestos, checked out their service and achievements in public and private sectors. I was basically looking for that man who was most qualified to Govern Lagos state, and one man stood out from the pack.
His name is Hakeem Gbajabiamila. Why did I single this guy out? I'll give you 10 reason.
10 reasons why Hakeem Gbajabiamila should be Lagos State Governor.
1. Age: He's young. He's just 47 years old. The people of Nigeria need a young responsible Governor with intergrity that they can look up to and emulate. It will be nice to have a governor that is at a decent age who will be able to understand and relate with the young generation, since the young generation are the ones who will shape the future of Nigeria. Therefore, they need a young leader that will take them there. We need someone young, with fresh ideas.
2. Family background: He's from a ruling, noble lineage. His paternal grandfather was the 3rd Bashorun of Lagos. His maternal grandfather was an Assistant Missioner and Chief Imam of renowned Islamic organisation, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria. His grandmother was the 'Olori Omokewu and Iya Adinni of Alasalatu of Nigeria. His uncle was once a Lagos State Magistrate Judge, another uncle was a commissioner for Finance in Lagos State. Hakeem's mum is a well-known grass-root political leader of repute in Lagos State. Why is all this relevant you may wonder? The Gbajabiamila's are not new to the service of their motherland. All this shows that he's not new to the call of public duty...it runs in the family.
3. Education: He has a B. Sc in Civil Engineering from the Southern Illinois University, USA. He also has a Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA. Then he attended a specialised Chief Executive Officer programmes at Harvard University and the Lagos Business School. He was top in his class. That tells me this is a brillant guy.
4. Work experience: He's worked on special projects across the private and public sector as a professional both in the US and Nigeria. Hakeem worked as an engineer with Randle Associate, St Louis, USA. An assistant area manager for multi-national construction company Camperon Bernard Construction Company, in France.
5. Achievements: Hakeem's company Projectscope built a 10, 000 office complex for the Ondo state Government.
. Construction of various bank buildings, single and multi family luxury residential projects in Lagos.
. Construction of 32 residential units and a recreational centre for the Memphis City Park Commission, and Memphis international airport.
. Hakeem initiated the development of the 'T' series Waterfront Tourism and Recreational projects. The first of it's kind.
. Between 2001 and 2002, he organised a highly successful and acclaimed world black heritage festival in Badagry to promote a sense of homecoming to blacks in the diaspora.
. Establishment of regional foodstuffs market, the Ikoyi and Victoria Island model city plan.
. The upgrade of slum communities like Badia, Olaleye, Iponri to mention a few.
6. His Party: He's the only candidate running for Governor in Lagos who is representing the ONLY party that has won all the elections in Lagos State since 1999
7. Leadership posts: General Manager of the Lagos State Waterfront and Tourism Development Corporation.
. Commissioner for Physical planning and Urban Development.
. Chairman, reconciliatory group on the crisis within Apapa Local Government, Lagos State.
. Leader, the dynamic group of AD. And so many more.
8. Exposure: He's schooled, worked and lived in developed countries. That exposure to what is obtainable in developd societies will go a long way in directing him on how to take Lagos State to the next level. Exposure has given him experience that can be shared with the youth of Nigeria. Young Nigerians will respect and learn alot from a man who has seen it all. Exposure is key to leadership. How can you lead when you know nothing?
9. His priority areas when he becomes Governor :
Unemployment: Over 200, 000 jobs will be created annually through small and medium scale businesses, funded with bank loans. Some of us who are in dire need of bank loans will benefit tremendously from this man.
Education: To rehabilitate and upgrade educational and school infrastructures, train and retrain teachers and improve their benefits and pay packages.
Health: Pay packages for all categories of health workers, rehabilation of health infrastructures.
Youth empowerment: He intends to establish in Lagos, FOUR centres of the world famous United Nations Youth Empowerment Programme. The objective is to produce thousands of youth enterpreneurs who will make a living through small-scale agricultural, aquaculture and poultry businesses. His Government will provide 10 billion annually to run this programme
10. His philosophy: 'The mark of a complete person is the ability to do the best in every circumstance, for your immediate group, for your society, your nation and for humanity'
It is very important that before we vote for any candidate, we do a thorough research on them. I have done mine and I think Hakeem Gbajabiamila is the kind of man we need. He's young, vibrant, has good leadership qualities, experienced, dedicated, respectful, humble, compassionate and well read. What else do we want?
It's going to take energy to change this State, we need a young intelligent man with intergrity that can do the job. We all know that Lagos needs a change that will better the lives of all Lagosians and lead our young people into a brighter future.
Hakeem is that man. I'm voting for him. What about you?
