Dinner with the Governor!

I was at a cocktail organized by the African students group at my school.
I met the Governor of Lagos state- Babatunde Fashola! I had heard of the event through a friend of mine who has a good nose and ear for sniffing out and hearing about such things and of course I wanted a chance to meet him. The event was strictly by invitation and there was no chance of 'mo gbo mo ya' behaviour. I signed up to be invited and waited expectantly but it was not until less than two hours to the event that I got my invite. Of course I was not to be deterred and quickly went home to change from my Jeans to a more respectable looking pair of pants! (trousers my naija bretheren, na so dem de call am for here, no be underwear o!)

I guess you can tell that I was very excited and I pride myself on not being excitable:) Anyway I got to the venue of the event on time for I am not one to keep to the African wristwatch. I had a heart stopping moment by the door when it took them some time to find my name on the list, but of course I was invited:) Anyway I walk in and very few people are milling around. Like I mentioned above it was the typical set up- small chops filled with cheese and sugar:) drinks and lots of small talk.

I met a few people but this was not what I came for, my friend with the good ear and nose for news comes in with another colleague from school. Then a couple of minutes later the Governor and his entourage appear! Thankfully we were all given an opportunity to talk to him and he very graciously shook our hands and listened to us. But blame my last name for always being a distraction, I am not a celebrity o! But apparently every uncle, cousin and other relation I know always has had the privilege of going to school with people I meet and my introduction is swallowed in 'Ah which 'insert last name' are you?, Are you related to so, so and so, He was my senior at school, he was head boy etc etc and my humble attempts to introduce myself are swallowed in the persona of another relation hmph. It was no different this time! One day I will make a name for myself and will be known for me,me,me (childish rants,Im laughing here:)

Anyway I had another two minutes to speak to the governor with friends from my school and even took a personal picture with him:)(If you want to see it you will have to ask:) and also with his some members of his entourage. It was a lovely experience all in all. He gave a speech about an hour after this cocktail about his vision for Lagos and what has been done so far to make the changes in the state. Ill highlight a few of the points he made.

He acknowledged that He just happens to be the visible head, he has a team which is as responsible for much of the success in the state. I loved the fact that he was able to deflect the praise as belonging wholly to him. Many others in his position would 'humbly' accept the praise and refuse to acknowledge the participation of many others.

He spoke about how he locked himself in a hotel room for days after he won the elections writing in long hand and then typing his vision for the state and later having meetings with members of his team to see how best this vision can be realized. It reminds me of a bible verse that says 'write the vision and make it plain'. I wonder how many leaders have ever thought up plans for the realms they rule? Its rhetorical but when you do not have a written plan, you cannot accomplish anything and this is evident in many places! Just my thoughts.

He spoke about visiting places not as a tourist but someone eager to learn how things are being run and then implementing them in the state. Many times I have wondered and had conversations with friends where we speak about leaders who spend holidays abroad and come home not wanting to implement even a tenth of the good they have seen beyond our shores. They seem to want to have the exclusive rights to nice things. I call that selfish! Its nice to hear that not all our leaders are like that. All I can say is that Lagos state is lucky to have him as governor.

Of course many things were said and it would take several posts to write down everything that happened yesterday. Its nice that LAGOS State is making a change in the right direction as I am sure many Lagosians would agree. I spoke to a commisioner and told him that what Lagos state is experiencing is what every citizen of Nigeria should have, call it our birth right if you will- Security, Health, Education,Good Roads, Power, Sanitation, Justice etc we should not have to beg to have access to those things and though the Governor is being commended for this its what we should all have without even thinking of it.

I was reminded both by the commissioners comments and the words of the Governor that when the land is full of darkness, one candle is seen as a great light! So Gov Fashola should be commended for braving the odds and going against the grain of what is prevalent. Another point is that the nations who we are constantly being measured against went through periods of instability and a lack of direction many years ago, they did not reach the heights they have attained suddenly but with hardwork, dedication, tears and a lot of sacrifice!

For someone outside the shores of my country, it was extremely heartwarming to see one of our leaders who is making a difference speak about what is going on and take on in discussion the apparent bias that many foreigners have about Nigeria.He answered questions about the Negative presentations the media give about Nigeria with a replica stellar performance like Chimamanda Adichies TED speech 'The single story'. The fact that a leper lives among many people does not make them all lepers. Thankfully leprosy has been shown not to be as contagious as it was once thought of in Ancient times.

My impressions of the Governor? He has made me a believer in the ability of government to make a change and a difference in the life of its citizens. Hitherto I believed that if we waited for the government to make a change my great grandchildren would be born still waiting:) Right now I may be persuaded to join a political party:)) Just Kidding! But seriously who knows? Gov.Fashola himself said that he never wanted to work for the Government and he is the Governor today!

All in all, it was one experience I am glad I did not miss if only to be rejuvenated and swell with National Pride once yesterday!