Lagos SSG, Tunji Bello rates Ambode’s govt low, says it is the worse since Lateef Jakande

The outgoing Secretary to the State Government in Lagos, Barr. Tunji Bello has stated that the Ambode administration lacked emotional intelligence and achieved less accomplishment when compared to previous administrations in the state. 

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The acclaimed journalist and lawyer who has previously served on the administrations of former Lagos Governors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola in his outgoing remarks as the SSG said Ambode’s ondoing is “the belief that our way is the best without considering other options in a democratic setting, absence of wider consultations, distance from the governed, lack of effective communication skill or amateurish display of government acts and political immaturity. 

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Why many wonder why it took this long for Tunji Bello to speak out, many are of the opinion that the outgoing governor’s vindictive nature made it difficult for subordinates to rightly advise him whenever he was wrong. 

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Read Tunji Bello’s full statement below…

TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE TO COLLEAGUES ON THIS PLATFORM .

The exit bell has sounded and it is time to say good bye to colleagues. We must seriously thank our Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for bringing all of us together in the last four years.

We must praise him for the successful strides in bringing Lagos to the present level. All the accomplishments and success stories of this administration should go to him.

We should be happy too because we are directly or indirectly part of that success stories being his lieutenants.  We should be happy for the opportunity provided and experience gained. It is not what you can buy on the shelf even if you have all the money. We should also be happy and thankful to God for seeing us to the end.

Yet as we depart on our individual sojourn, we must never forget to learn from our glaring weaknesses and failures. Since we are all part of the success stories we must also share in the weaknesses and failures.

Our main drawback is our Government’s inability to apply enough emotional intelligence in the administration of the state. Emotional intelligence includes interpersonal skills, interpersonal relationship, humility, respect for the well established mores of governance, disregard for the accomplishments of others. The belief that our way is the best without considering other options in a democratic setting, absence of wider consultations, distance from the governed, lack of effective communication skill or amateurish display of government acts and political immaturity. Deliberate and open alienation of others. We undertook gigantic projects without the soul. We were too self opinionated and narrow in our approach to governance.

It is a big drawback which prevented the administration from returning because it was punished for its lack of inclusiveness in a democratic setting.

In leadership, emotional intelligence is 70 per cent of application while individual brilliance is only 30 percent. Successful leaderships across the world in history have thrived on this fact.

Besides, and apart from lack of enough camaraderie compare to previous administrations, our cabinet has been less rigorous, less fulfilled, less engaged and less accomplished. And for the first time since the time of Governor Lateef Jakande, this cabinet departs unappreciated and disenchanted.

But dear colleagues, irrespective of all the set backs and disappointments, let us thank God Almighty for his mercies and benevolence and we leave with strongest belief that tomorrow belongs to HIM.

I wish all success in our future endeavors as we continue to remember one another!

Tunji Bello

Secretary to the State Government.