For the Love of Lagos

At 60 today, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, deserves his flowers for his service and love for the state. Olawale Olaleye writes.

Whether for his selfless service, disposition to peace and development, or mesmeric generosity and kindness, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has already earned his leadership placement in the political artery of the state.

Dealing with an insatiable society is already a lot to contend with. But striving to do good by everyone is a tad too much to embody, especially in an environment where the entitlement culture is prevalent.

From day one, Sanwo-Olu has tried to be different, with effort to create his own niche and without rubbing it in anyone’s face. Operating in a Lagos environment – a totally cosmopolitan society with its peculiar shortcoming – is not a child’s play.

With the many tendencies competing for attention almost endlessly, the Lagos governor is the natural class captain for his peers, whether or not they earn more from the federation account.

As the nation’s melting pot and her commercial nerve centre, Lagos shoulders more burden than it can ordinarily contain. But it has continued to bear this burden with grace and timelessly.

This, perhaps, was why Governor Sanwo-Olu wanted to be as natural as possible in office, despite security mapping of his life as a “property of the state”.

Dropping the title, His Excellency for Mr. Governor was an idea he thought would create a leveler with the people, bring them closer to governance and leadership, and also engender an open-door policy.

Being accessible is another distraction he’s had to deal with in spite of his otherwise stiff schedule, a development that has crept into other spheres of his life and work. Although it’s been tough blending the forces, it is equally compelling for him because of the path he had chosen.

Sanwo-Olu’s deliberate decision to always say yes to nearly everyone is as good as it is overwhelming. There’s hardly anyone who has made a request of the governor and returned with a no for an answer. No one cares to ask if the decision was easy for him. He always plays liberal leadership, just so everyone is happy.

Quite often, this part of him is taken for granted as many entitled folks have created an industry with this. But for his personal peace, he sees these things and pretends all his well. Much as he cannot satisfy everyone or meet everyone’s needs, the effort to balance things is obvious and therefore cannot be used against him.

Leaving state responsibilities to intervene in people’s personal matters is often seen as doing too much by some. But a leader who understands the broken window theory and is able to critically analyse it beyond what it immediately represents will see the logic in the path the Lagos governor has always chosen.

From the first day at his desk, Sanwo-Olu has had to fight many battles – either in administration, policies, or enforcement – but he has also carried on with such equanimity that betrays no emotions. Yet, he is human and should feel the weight of the pressure from all sides.

Taking stock of his life at 60, there have been obvious challenges, particularly in the last six years of his governorship, but not as much as the reasons to celebrate and thank God for the mercies so far extended to him.

There’s no doubt that God has brought him very far with a promising future to behold. Sanwo-Olu, for the love of the state his people, has had to undergo unusual yet intense baptism of fire, watching over Africa’s largest economy as its chief security officer and ‘financial adviser’.

Although this could have either consumed him or undermined his efforts, that he is standing tall, firm and strong is not entirely his doing or machination but a mix of grace and the capacity to deliver, having learnt and risen through the ranks.

From the time he joined politics in 2003 and appointed special adviser on corporate matters to former deputy governor of the state, Femi Pedro, Sanwo-Olu, has left no one doubt about his capacity. Even when he was later made the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget until 2007, he showed capacity through the understanding of his office.

As Commissioner for Commerce and Industry under President Bola Tinubu as then governor of Lagos, Sanwo-Olu brought his private sector experience to bear and tailored it to suit his new portfolio.

His appointment as the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2007 was yet another testament to the saying that the reward for hard work is more work.

Later appointed the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016, before his eventual emergence as the governor in 2019, Sanwo-Olu has kept a clean record of performance and diligence, solid enough to guarantee any future imaginable.

If life truly begins at 40, maybe it is recalibrating for Sanwo-Olu at 60, and he appears prepared for whatever future that life is ready to ship his way.