Sanwo-Olu Calls For Continuity, Challenges Opposition To Match Lagos’ Progress

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for continuity in governance, urging political parties in the state to compete based on ideas, achievements and their plans for the future.

Sanwo-Olu made the call after joining members of the Yoruba Tennis Club to commemorate the club’s 100th anniversary, according to a post via his X handle on Tuesday, while speaking on the values that have shaped Lagos over the years.

The governor said the “Lagos Spirit” of courage, self-belief and resilience had continued to influence the state’s development and democratic journey.

“The Lagos Spirit has always been about courage, self-belief, resilience and the willingness to build when doors are closed,” he said.

According to him, his administration had built on previous governments’ achievements over the last seven years through the THEMES+ agenda, covering transportation, healthcare, education, technology, food security and economic development.

Sanwo-Olu said governance should be measured by its impact on residents’ everyday lives.

“Governance only matters if it improves daily life, whether that means a nurse in Alimosho getting to work on time, a student in Ajegunle having the books they need or a trader at Mile 12 getting goods to the market safely,” he said.

He said the 100th anniversary of the Yoruba Tennis Club, provided an opportunity to reflect on the values that had contributed to Lagos’ development and the responsibility of building on the achievements of previous generations.

On political succession and continuity, Sanwo-Olu argued that change in government should be driven by the desire to achieve better results rather than change for its own sake.

“Continuity is the mark of progress. Change should bring better ideas and better results, not change for its own sake,” he said.

He challenged opposition parties in Lagos to present alternatives capable of matching or surpassing the achievements of the current administration.

“Our challenge to the opposition is for them to show Lagosians ideas that can match or surpass what we have built,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He added that democratic competition should focus on policies and the future of the state rather than personalities.

“That is how democracy should work. We should compete on ideas, results and the future we can offer our people,” he said.