Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday unveiled a 20-feet statue of the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in Ikeja, saying that the state aligns with the All Progressives Congress (APC) on restructuring and devolution of powers.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the unveiling of the statue located on Obafemi Awolowo Way by the Lagos Television (LTV) junction in Ikeja, said the party’s position, as stipulated in its manifesto, seeks to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit and that the state supports the restructuring committee of the party going round the country to achieve same.
“In the same corollary, the position of Lagos State on restructuring remains the same as stipulated in the manifesto of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, which states that ‘The APC shall initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to States and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit’. Hence, we welcome the restructuring committee of the APC presently going round the country,” he said.
The Governor, who also spoke when he hosted members of the Awolowo dynasty at the Lagos House residence in Ikeja, said like himself, new generation leaders have a lot to learn from the ideals and principles of Awolowo if they intend to impact positively on the lives of the people they govern.
He said the quest to sustain the ideals which Awolowo stood for prompted Lagos to join hands with five other south-west states in the Oodua Investment conglomerate to champion the political and economic integration of the region.
Ambode said the unveiling of the statue was thus in recognition of all the legacies that the Awolowo dynasty was enviably known for and the beginning of the realisation of all his aspirations for a better Nigeria and the Yoruba people in particular.
In her remarks, daughter of the late sage, Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu, said her late father was able to utilise taxes to drive most of his people-oriented policies and that those who once criticised his tax drive later rallied around him and adopted same for economic growth.
She said over the years, her late father’s success story had become a template for any government desirous of making meaningful impact in the life of its citizenry, adding that prompt payment of taxes is essential to the development of any state.
While thanking the Governor for the honour done to her late father, she commended him for steadfastly following the footsteps of her father, noting that Lagos under him, was recording impressive achievements.
