The Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in Lagos State, Rotimi Odunaike, has declared that the quality of life of Lagos residents will be the central focus of his vision for the state, arguing that the success of governance should ultimately be measured by how people live, work, and move around the city.
Penpushing reports that Odunaike added that his motivation for seeking the governorship was rooted in his personal experience of growing up in the state and his concern about what he described as the erosion of the quality of life available to Lagosians.
The Labour Party Governorship flagbearer recalled that he knew Lagos before spending part of his professional life abroad, emphasizing that Lagos raised him and knows nooks and crannies of the state
Penpushing further reports that Odunaike pointed out that the Lagos of his childhood was not perfect, but stated that it possessed qualities he believes have progressively been lost over the years.
The Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), said his concern was less about headline economic statistics and more about the practical experience of ordinary residents.
“Lagos raised me. When I look at the state of things and the quality of life, I’m not talking about numbers and I’m not talking about statistics”, he said. “I’m talking about the impact to Lagosians on their quality of life”, he added.
Penpushing also reports that Odunaike stated that mobility is not simply a transport issue but a quality-of-life issue with wider implications for the Lagos economy, stressing that better mobility would improve people’s access to jobs, businesses and opportunities across the state
The Governorship hopeful pointed out that a resident of Ikeja, for instance, should be able to travel to Epe for business without the journey becoming a major constraint, however, he linked mobility and infrastructure to the vulnerability of informal-sector workers, particularly traders whose businesses can be disrupted by flooding and other environmental challenges.
Penpushing reports that he described traders as a critical component of the Lagos economy and argued that the daily difficulties they face in operating their businesses should form part of the assessment of governance and public policy.
The politician said broader proposition is that Lagos should pursue excellence across the fundamentals that shape everyday life, rather than relying principally on the description of Lagos as a “Centre of Excellence”,
Penpushing further reports that Odunaike said the state should demonstrate excellence through the actual quality of governance and public services, citing governance, mobility, the economy, housing and hospitality among areas where he believes higher standards should be established.
The Governorship Candidate said his political focus was therefore not primarily on competing personalities but on articulating what he described as his vision for Lagos and demonstrating how it would affect residents.
Penpushing also reports that underlying that vision, Odunaike stated, that it is therefore a concern about the role of values in leadership and public service, and reflecting on his upbringing, particularly the discipline instilled by his mother, a Nigerian Army officer, and his years in military schools, Odunaike said the values he acquired as a child continue to shape his understanding of leadership.
The chieftain of the opposition party argued that although circumstances may test or weaken an individual’s values, a deeply rooted value system can ultimately bring a person back to their core.
Penpushing reports that Odunaike said challenge of leadership goes beyond political parties or personalities, stating that Nigeria needs a stronger culture of values and service in public life, emphasizing that his ambition is to build a campaign and a vision for Lagos, centred on the people.
“You might meet different people. You might deviate a little bit here and there, but your core brings you back. At the end of the day, it is about them”, he said, referring to Lagos residents’, he stated.
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