Ambode woos support of Island Club

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has expressed appreciation to Island club’s members for his confirmation as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Peacock.

Ambode expressed his gratitude to the club during its annual Christmas Eve dance at the Peacock Hall, Onikan Lagos.

“I am delighted to be here to felicitate with you and exchanging season’s greetings with distinguished Lagosians.

“My presence here is the first since my assumption of office as governor; it is an opportunity to share the progress we have made and our projections for 2016.

“I thank the chairman, patrons, trustees and members for receiving me last year when I came in the company of my predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the present Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

“If all of us continue to demonstrate strong commitment to the vision of which the club was established and guide to modern realities we must be willing to embrace change and reforms,’’ he said.

“With the recent 2016 budget which I presented to the state House of Assembly, we are positioned to take advantage of the opportunities and maximise the allocation of resources.

“2016 is a different new light in the life of the state; it is a painful task of making Lagos self-reliant and prosperous.

“I want to use this opportunity to seek for your support for the programmes and polices of this administration for government cannot do it alone.

“The people also have to keep their own side of the bargain by diligently performing their civic responsibilities to the government through prompt and regular payment of taxes.’’

Ambode said the success of 2016 budget was anchored on the internally generated revenue where attention to e-Governance to help boost service delivery to the people will be paid.

“Lagos state must be clean, safe and prosperous; it is our promise to the state and it is a promise I intend to keep,’’ he said.

The Chairman of the club, Oladipo Okpeseyi, said that it was an honour to bestow Gov. Ambode the Grand Commander of the Order of the Peacock, saying it was in solidarity for the governor.

He said that the club shared in the vision of the state which is to make life easier for all regardless of religion and tribe.

Okpeseyi said that the club was prepared to play its role as distinguished members of the public in helping the governor to achieve his set objectives.

He also called on the public to share in the vision and make Lagos State a better place to live in.

The Christmas’ eve party ended in the morning hours of Christmas day with legendary King Sunny Ade delivering his evergreen music tunes to the delight of members.