National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday charged newly sworn-in members of Lagos State cabinet to see their appointments as an opportunity to serve the people of the state and prove they deserved the appointment.
Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos, gave this charge while at Eko Hotel & Suites, venue of the four-day retreat organised by the state government for the new cabinet members, including the new nine permanent secretaries.
It would be recalled that Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, performed the swearing-in of commissioners on Tuesday at a ceremony which took place at Adeyemi Bero, Alausa, Ikeja.
The APC leader told the 35 commissioners to count themselves lucky to be selected among other qualified Lagosians, urging them to serve the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
This was just as he described Lagos an important state and the heartbeat of Nigeria, noting that it was a great honour and opportunity for them to serve Lagos.
“My experience can only be shared with you as time progress. You are a team of selected few to serve the people of Nigeria and Lagos. This is an important state and the heartbeat of Nigeria. Anything that goes wrong here is a cancer to Nigeria. To serve Lagos is a great honour and opportunity for you. It shows you have been deemed to be one of the able professionals in your field with great character,” Tinubu said.
“However, talent can only give you the opportunity and recognition away from your peers, but it can’t pave the way for the well- being of the society. Talent without character is zero. There are so many unrewarded talents across the world.
“Your appointment gives you a huge opportunity unavailable to rest of the people. Always place in your mind that honour and opportunity comes with great responsibility,” he added.
Also speaking, Minister of Works and Housing, who is also a former governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, enjoined the new appointees to work more, read a lot rather than resulting to prayers in discharge of their duties as they had signed up for a difficult job but a noble undertaking to serve the people.
“You have to read a lot. You can’t do this business without reading. I welcome you to life of service to your nation and state. Forget prayers, it’s what you do that matters. You have signed up for a difficult job but it’s a noble undertaking to serve your people. You have to prove you deserve yo be here. Some of you have been in politics, some are technocrats. You came here on a political platform so you all have become politicians,” the minister said.
“You must develop a working relationship with political structure in your wards and state. Don’t leave the area from where they picked you. You are the ears and eyes of the governor from where you are picked,” he further said.