31st December, 2010
BEING THE 2011 NEW YEAR MESSAGE BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, MR. BABATUNDE FASHOLA (SAN), TO THE PEOPLE OF LAGOS ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2011.
I congratulate all Nigerians, particularly my fellow Lagosians, today as we begin another  journey of fate and destiny in 2011. It seems indeed like yesterday when we all bade farewell to Year 2009. But the reality is that we are once more at the start of another 365 days when we must again roll up our sleeves and strive to bring about change to those things which we found unacceptable in Year 2010 and consolidate on our achievements for that year.
One potential which we must endeavour to draw strength from this year as we undertake to consolidate our rank in the comity of democratic nations, through the fast approaching general elections, is our innate greatness. As a country, Nigeria has made her mark globally, especially, in her contribution to global peace. She has sacrificed men and materials to keep other nations stable. She has led mostly from the front to bring political and economic stability to some nations, particularly in the Continent of Africa. Individually, Nigerians have continued to make their mark in all spheres of human development, Science, Medicine, the Arts and Music, to name a few. They have continued to build wealth and prestige for other nations, working mostly from the background, hardly acknowledged.
Ironically, it is not as if the challenges which they seem to readily cite as being responsible for their sojourn are not present in those countries. Perhaps, what is missing here is the orderliness which obedience to the tenets of the rule of law engenders in those countries. This begins with the ability of citizens of those climes to choose leaders of their choice.
Indeed, the need to get it right here is why the Year 2011 journey which begins today is significant. And this is why Year 2011 is the year of destiny for Nigeria and Nigerians. It is a year when we must redraw the picture of failure and perceived inability to govern ourselves which we have, hitherto presented to the outside world. It is a year when we must endeavour to reclaim our glory. Our future greatness lies in our ability to move beyond rhetoric and practically rebrand our country and change the ugly picture that has unfortunately been presented to the world through the acts of very few of our countrymen who are in the minority.
The journey to that greatness and glory starts with a free and fair elections this year. Everything – our political and economic stability, our position as an independent nation worthy of global recognition, indeed, our legacy to future generations of Nigerians – all will depend on the conduct of free and fair elections this year. It is important to note this because it will guide us to put our votes where our conscience is. It will assist us to answer the question as to whether we want to have a future of true freedom for our children and generations unborn or relinquish this freedom to those few among us who only come to us at elections and disappear into their protective walls soon after leaving us all in the cold.
The way we use our votes will determine the nature and character of leadership we truly want. It will also demonstrate our ability and willingness to extricate ourselves from exploitation and servitude. But most of all, our rightful use of our votes will demonstrate to the whole world that Nigeria has finally arrived to take her rightful place in the global community. We must not miss this chance. It may be our last.
Fellow Lagosians, in the course of transforming our dear State into a model mega-city in Africa, we have endeavoured to make you our focus, putting in place at all times policies from which we could draw enormous advantages for your benefit. The massive infrastructural renewal which we embarked on at the onset of this administration has created thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, for our people. Our Greening and Beautification Programmes has not only created jobs for our youths but has also created a new economy which was hardly there at the beginning. Our investment in security and street lighting has brought back a night life and night economy which were hitherto not there.
As we continue to make life even better in this New Year, I enjoin you to continue to play your roles as good and law- abiding citizens. You must be vigilant and resist those who are out to steal your votes and your right to determine who governs you for money. They have nothing to offer but deceit and personal aggrandizement. It is deceit, for instance for anyone to give you the impression that he would be capable of developing this State without revenue from tax. The question that such people should be made to answer is where the fund for development would come from. They would also point at some of the developmental challenges that are still outstanding around the State as grounds of their argument against us. It is all political grandstanding that will blow away after the elections.
While we do not claim perfection in all our accomplishments so far, I urge you to see the cup as half full rather than half empty. Our development plan encompasses the whole State. If we have not reached your part of the State, it only means we are on our way. We do not indulge in quick fixes. We give quality and we believe that you deserve nothing less.
As we join the rest of the world in celebrating this brand New Year, therefore, please let us work and pray for both our country and our dear State for peace, stability and sustained development. I promise you that with your support, our State shall continue to lead from the front in all that is right and worthy in this country and continent.
I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Eko Oni Baje o
MR. BABATUNDE FASHOLA (SAN)
GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE