Encomium
ONE of the Lagos guber aspirants on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Leke Pitan, has described Thursday, May 15, 2014 endorsement of former Accountant General of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode by Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu as nothing but a personal opinion. He added that it has not, in any way, stopped him from vying for the party’s governorship ticket.
Speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Sunday, May 18, 2014, the Epe, Lagos born medical practitioner turned politician expressed optimism that there will still be a primary election during which he would contest and win the party’s ticket, which will enable him contest for the governorship seat in 2015.
He, however, remarked that Oba Akiolu’s pronouncement that Ambode has been tipped to succeed the incumbent governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has nothing to do with the party’s process of electing its flag-bearer.
“The endorsement of Ambode by Oba Akiolu is just a personal opinion. It has nothing to do with our party’s process of selecting a flag-bearer. I can’t be scared by that pronouncement. It has not, in anyway, affected my aspiration. I am still very much in the race, even fully, firmly and stronger than before. Not only that, I am now enjoying a kind of robust support from Lagosians more than ever before. I don’t want to say more than that.”
Stating why he is interested in governing Lagos State, the amiable politician said, “I am not in the race because I am ambitious but by my intention to continue helping the people. If it were to be by ambition, I would have come out in 2007. But now, I believe it’s the right time for me to join the race, that’s why I came out. And by the special grace of God, I will govern Lagos. I will make Lagosians enjoy the dividends of democracy the more at no extra cost.”
Asked what gave him an edge over other aspirants, he reacted, “By my pedigree, I think I am over qualified to rule Lagos State. Without sounding arrogant, there is record to
show my achievements when I was the Commissioner for Health and also when I served as Commissioner for Education in the state.
“Aside coming from Epe, I’m also in good terms with all the party leaders. Equally, I have a lot that people of Lagos State are still referring to till date. It was when I became Commissioner for Health that I created the first health service reform that enabled flexibility and good quality of healthcare services to the people of Lagos State. Also, prior to my administration, it was difficult to get ambulances from government hospitals to convey very sick patients or accident victims to hospitals. I was the one that created the existing Ambulance Services Scheme in the state as a serving commissioner. The service is free to all Lagos residents.
“I equally created the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), for quick response of government to emergencies, which is evident today in the positive attitudes of the agency during the series of disasters in Lagos. Also, Lagos State government remains the first, in the history of Nigeria’s healthcare management, to perform open heart surgeries which was also my initiative when I was the Commissioner for Health.”
He stated further, “The spirit of democracy in me is to always embark on people oriented programmes. When I was the health commissioner, I transformed the health sector. That’s why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu re-assigned me to education ministry which equally witnessed a massive transformation during my brief stay as Commissioner for Education.
“It was when I was the Commissioner for Education that I established the all inclusive education system in Lagos State, whereby physically challenged students/pupils and other students were schooled in the same classrooms, which wasn’t the case before. Many schools in Lagos State now emulate this practice.”
Dr. Leke Pitan studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan
(MBBS), where he came out with distinction in Anatomy and later had his Masters in Public Health from Lagos State University (LASU) as the best graduating student.
While working as a health practitioner, he had equal passion and commitment for political activities. Having been tutored by the likes of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, one-time Lagos State governor, he has always carried the burden of how to ensure that the average Nigerian derives good benefits of governance, especially the people of Lagos State.
