The meeting provided an avenue for participants to evaluate the performance of the Fashola-led administration and its impacts on their lives.
Also, an array of officers of the state service agencies, and voluntary associations had a colourful parade.
Mr. Kunle Hassan said he could have died of kidney ailment if the state government did not intervene in his case. He narrated how the state government sponsored his medical trip to India, where he underwent kidney transplant successfully at the cost of N5m.
Another resident, Mr. John Omokolawole, said he took advantage of Lagos State Agriculture Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-YES), which empowered him to eke a living after wandering about streets after graduation in 2008 because he could not get a job. "I keyed into Agric-YES. The form was even free. I was selected after the exams. Now, I am living a meaningful life."
Miss. Uzoma Okere who was assaulted by naval officers attached to Commodore Harry Arogundage on September 30, 2008 also spoke on how the Lagos State Office of Public Defence took her case up and pursued it to a logical end. And almost two years after, Okere f got justice in a state High Court, which awarded a claim of N100 million against the naval officers and their institution.
She said she could have been assaulted and harassed without justice if the state Office of Public Defence initiative was not "conceived, established and effectively operated to help the downtrodden in the state. "Even though I am not from Lagos, I benefitted from the state's people-oriented policies. I was beaten. Governor Fashola heard about how the naval officers dragged me down from my car and assaulted me. He directed the OPD to intervene. I got free legal service from the state and a N100 million claim".
A number of other actors in the informal sector flooded the stadium to appreciate government's policies, which they claimed better their lives.
They therefore spoke on the need to ensure that the state "does not fall into the hands of political jobbers who have no record of accomplishment, but now seeking to experiment with Lagos."
Fashola urged the people to protect their votes.
"I have had the privilege to serve you. Our votes remain the safest weapons to protect and preserve our common patrimony."
He stressed that those present at the event represented "the inclusiveness and participatory nature of government and democracy in Lagos. The transformation that has won our state honours and recognition within and outside our fatherland has been delivered by that participation and inclusiveness which has allowed everybody to contribute to the development of our commonwealth.
"You have been the pillars of the successes of our administration. You have lived together peacefully, respecting each other's diversity. This has indeed made it possible for this government to deploy the inherent advantages of that diversity to propel our state towards progress and prosperity through the various policies and programmes that have touched many lives in a most rewarding way at different levels," he explained.
He noted that in the last 100 days, the appropriation law for 2011 to give effect to the budget that will consolidate the gains already made has been signed saying that the state government has set about the implementation in its usual methodical and efficient manner to bring about much impact.
Fashola cited the case of Mushin, where he said his administration "has handed over the 17- Skills Acquisition Centre built to provide skill development, technical education and self-employment opportunities to the youths just as a facility that comprises a school and clinic for the physically challenged children in Owode-Elede has been opened.
The governor added that three mini-water works with a capacity for two million gallons of water daily each to service at least 500 homes were handed over in Ifako Ijaiye, Ikorodu and Badore.
In the last 100 days, medical missions have been working in Epe, Oshodi and Shomolu, to bring healthcare services closer to thousands of citizens without a charge. This is a clearer evidence of taxes being put to work. Fortnight ago, we engaged 507 degree holders in such basic subjects as English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. The teachers have undergone special innovative conversion course to enable them acquire required skills in teaching methodologies and techniques," Fashola said.
The governor announced their deployment to public schools to run special extension classes for students who are preparing for Secondary School Certificate (SSCE).
In Ibeju Lekki and Eti-Osa, new blocks of classrooms have been delivered to provide a more conducive learning environment with libraries and laboratories while partnership with the private sector has also delivered another new school in Dolphin/Ijeh area of Lagos.
As a proof of commitment to the people, Fashola said he had inspected newly deployed innovative technology adopted to construct a ramp from Ozumba Mbadiwe Road to Falomo Bridge to solve crisis of traffic congestion which always plague the Nigerian Law School intersection.
"Our administration has improved our capacity for road maintenance as more roads are daily being rehabilitated and repaired as we simply get better each day. We have restored hope to the middle class settlement of Adeniran Ogunsanya with a new road, and a rejuvenated shopping centre as we are also about to complete and handover Ogunlana Drive, while work is going on in Akerele and Bode Thomas."
Fashola also cited a number of road works undertaken in Fashoro and Mba Street in Idi- Araba and Mushin and some in Ijeshatedo, Agiliti, Agege and other parts of Lagos, which he said, are at different stages of completion. On water transportation, he said more ferries, which will operate from Ikorodu to Ebute –Ero in 17 minutes, had been procured to be added to the existing six while government also expects to deliver more ferries.
Also, the state government has formally launched the Lagos Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that gives it enormous capacity in land administration, urban and town planning and so many other opportunities. Fashola explained that the project has captured in photographic form, every building and every inch of land that exist in the state as well as the length and depth of all its entire waterways.
Fashola expressed gratitude to all Lagos residents, all members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and his immediate predecessor, Bola Tinubu, whom he described as an ardent architect of the present transformation currently taking place "in different parts and sectors of our state of aquatic splendor. It is a fitting coincidence that the 1400-day event also falls on the birthday of my predecessor."
Ministry of Information and Strategy Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ranti Odutola said the administration "has 60 more days in office to complete its four-year term with good records of stewardship. She described it as one whose belief and value "are on the principle of utilitarianism, saying that the administration has performed beyond people's expectation and political rivals within its short period in office.
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http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=31877
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