Press Releases

Fashola Urges Restraint, Compromise In Governance

Jun 4, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday urged restraint, compromise and mutual understanding among the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary saying this is the only way to successfully meet the aspirations of the people.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the dedication of the official residence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly at the GRA, Ikeja, said the underlying principle of Separation of Powers should not be taken as to mean that there will be no meeting point in the discharge of the responsibilities of governance among the arms of government.

“The view that I have always taken is that the Separation of Powers, as indeed any thing conceived by man, cannot be perfect and requires compromise, restraint and mutual understanding”, the Governor said adding that the Constitution also could not be said to be perfect.

Buttressing his argument further, Governor Fashola said the building which was being dedicated was once the property of the Executive arm of the State Government but by virtue of the dedication, has become the property of the Legislature, adding, “If there is really separation of powers and the two lines can never meet, how did we achieve this?’

According to the Governor, “An interesting analogy about here is that this building used to be the Governor’s Guest House. It used to be under my purview as the Chief of Staff. It used to be property of the Executive; today it has become the property of the Legislature”, adding that this was achieved through restraint, sacrifice and give-and-take.

He said apart from the symbolism of the story of the house and how it came about, it is important to say that the house has hosted a great many Nigerian leaders, adding, “It was a citadel of so many robust debates, so many profound thinking and ideas that not only sustained our democracy in the last dispensation, but it was the portal think tank for some of the robust ideas that we presented as our case when debates for Constitutional Reform were going on in the last administration”.

“It is, therefore, a house of so much history and I believe it will be a house of more history by first being a safe and comfortable abode for its first occupant and his family and that it will provide the necessary environment for him to continue to lead the most prosperous House to contribute its responsibility by way of the ground-breaking innovative legislation for the glory, not only of Lagos, but of our democracy and of our country”, the Governor said.

Governor Fashola thanked the Speaker for not only inviting him to come and dedicate the building but insisting that he did it in person and prayed that both those who live in the house and those who come to visit would find safe passage, comfort and all of the good things life can provide.

Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, thanked the Governor for the work done in renovating the building saying he is not only building on the works of his predecessor but is also charting a new course in the governance of the State.

Fielding questions from newsmen later, the obviously elated Speaker declared, “I am excited and happy. It is a dream comes true. It is not only that I wanted it , I dreamt of it. I felt that in Lagos State we need a special House as a residence of the Speaker of the House”, adding that he is happy that it has come to be during his tenure.

He recalled that he requested for this during the Fifth Assembly when he was Speaker not knowing that he was coming back as Speaker, adding, “Today, the dream has come true. I was the one who laid the foundation of this House and it is now completed in my life time as Speaker of the House and we are moving in”.

According to him, the House symbolizes the importance of the Legislature in governance and the good relationship which exists between the two arms of government adding that the house would also go a long way to enhance the effectiveness of his work as Speaker.

Also present at the occasion were the Deputy Governor, Princess Adebisi Sosan, the Deputy Speaker Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze and his Environment counterpart, Dr. Muiz Banire among other members of the Executive Council and Legislature as well as other top government functionaries.