Mr Akinwumi Ambode, APC governorship candidate in Lagos state, on Tuesday said he would raise the performance bar of Gov. Babatunde Fashola, if elected into office.
Ambode made the pledge while speaking at a meeting with artisans and tradesmen at Ikeja.
The meeting was facilitated by the state government.
He said his long-standing experience in the state’s civil service had equipped him with the wherewithal to take the state to the next level.
The APC candidate said that his 27 years in the civil service gave him the right experience needed to transform the state.
Ambode said his public service experience climaxed with his attainment of position of Accountant-General of the state.
He described the informal sector as the most important section of the state’s population and appealed to artisans and indeed all Lagosians to make his ambition a reality through their votes.
"Lagos is owned by the people in the informal sector as this group constitutes more than 85 per cent of the population.
"So, since it is you artisans who own the state, I appeal to you and indeed all Lagosians to support my aspiration to govern the state.
"I am the man for the job because having spent 27 years in the civil service, at the peak of which I became the Accountant-General, I think I understand government and governance.
"My work experience in the local governments and the grassroots has enabled me to understand the people and what they want.
"The task of making Lagos a better place is a collective responsibility. And by the grace of God, if I am elected, I will take the state to the next level,’’ he said.
Ambode commended the interventionist strides of Fashola, saying "his administration had done so much to better the lots of residents’’.
He commended Fashola for uplifting artisans and trades through a number of policies and programmes.
Ambode also promised to consolidate on those programmes to further reposition the informal sector.
"I thank Gov. Fashola for what he has done in Lagos and what he has done particularly for you artisans.
"In case, you don`t know, I was raised by an artisan mother. My mother was a seamstress. So, I remember the rough things we had to endure as a family to survive.
"In a way, I am part of you because I understand you. If I am elected, I will consolidate on those programmes that have bettered your lives while introducing new ones.
"It is a promise and you can trust me on that,’’ he said.
Earlier, Fashola said he trusted the competence of Ambode to govern the state.
He had the APC governorship candidate experience and the will required to govern a state like Lagos.
The governor said Ambode was a major contributor to the successes of his administration as he discharged himself remarkably well when he was Accountant-General.
Fashola said what the state needed now was experience and not somebody who would experiment with governance.
"What Lagos requires now is somebody with the right experience and track record and not somebody who will experiment with governance.
"Ambode has been part of this government and he understands the game. I urge all Lagosians to vote and support this man to move our dear state forward,’’ he said.
Mr Bola Sanusi, President of Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans, commended Fashola’s administration for empowering artisans with trainings and other forms of support.
He appealed to government to fulfil its promise of land for the council secretariat building.
Sanusi also urged Ambode not to dump the administration’s various impactful programmes for the informal sector if given the mandate.
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