IBRAHIM QUADRI
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Abdul-Ganiyu, the son of the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudasiru Obasa, as substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government of the State.
Obasa’s son, who had been acting in the role for some time, was sworn in on Monday, officially taking over the mantle of leadership and the responsibility to steer the affairs of the council.
He assumed office following the resignation of the former Chairman, Tunde Azeez, who had been on medical leave since the swearing-in of the new council administration in the State.
Azeez, in a letter read by the Leader of the House, Adeshina Haruna, stepped down due to persistent health challenges that had significantly affected his ability to perform his duties.
During the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu urged the newly sworn-in chairman to prioritize community development and align closely with the state government’s vision.
Sanwo-Olu said, “Today’s ceremony is solemn, but it’s also a moment for us to push trust and responsibility.
This is a moment where we have to underscore the belief that governance is strengthened when we put capable people in trusted positions of leadership and when public office is approached as a platform for service rather than for privilege.
“We are gathered to formally swear in officials and we’ve seen two public officers whose roles are distinct but they are equally part of our central functioning.
As a government, they is extremely rare for us to have a political swearing-in and a core policy story, but it goes to show that for us in Lagos, we’ll continue to let governance and the will of our people continue to drive us.
“So what that tells us is that all of us will be retired at one point in time, Governors will retire. Nobody will hold the office forever.
And it’s only what you do that people can recount and they can speak about. I’m counting my own days too.
“Honourable AbdulGaniyu Vinod Obasa, today you assume office formally as the chairman of Agege Local Government, bringing the trust of your people.
Local Government is where governance is felt the most. I need to tell you directly where policies meet daily realities and where leadership must be visible.
“Leadership must be responsive and must be compassionate. Your task is to deepen community development, to promote social cohesion, and to ensure that the standards of governance are delivered fairly, transparently, and equitably to the people of Agege.
“I urge you to lead inclusively, to not divide your people with the lines of group or form or people that have supported you or didn’t support you enough.
You need to work with your legislature and work with your traditional institutions. You are meant to uphold accountability and the management of public resources.
“I know that in your acting capacity, I watched you from afar, you’ve started very well. You’ve done a lot of great things.
“But now, as chairman, you have the full mandate to bridge the divide, the divide of policies, the divide of local realities. And you have the full mandate to reconcile everybody.
“If I look at you and tell you that Agege is fully reconciled, I’ll be lying. But you have the responsibility as the chairman to do that.
It’s not a function of age; it’s a function of the office you hold and the responsibility that has been given to you.
All your leaders are here. They’ve come here to support you, to assure you that we will be with you, we will guide you, and we will let you be.
They will let you breathe and they will let you have the full power of the office.
“I wish that your father were also here. And I’m sure you will not disappoint all of his people and your generation.
You are indeed one of our young minds and I want to wish you all the best.”
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr Kayode Robert, stressed that upon the ex-Chairman’s medical leave of absence, Mr Abdul Ganiyu Obasa had been conducting the affairs of Agege Local Government Area, in acting capacity.
“The swearing in of the new Chairman is another call to a season of service, dedication and selflessness to the people of Agege Local Government Area,” Robert stated.