Party Owns Government – Fashola

A former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday highlighted the crucial role of the political party in ensuring good governance, saying the government belongs to the party.

Fashola said this in an interview with newsmen at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, in Lagos.

He spoke on the sidelines of the 18th edition of the Lagos State Executive/Legislative parley, with the theme,” Engaging all for Inclusive Governance: Hands on for a Greater Lagos Rising”.

The programme also attracted some party leaders in the state.

Fashola said that such gatherings, apart from enhancing executive/legislature relationship,  were important in bringing the party up to speed with the goings on in government.

“For this kind of team building, it’s very critical and it also helps to bring the party into the play, because at the end of the day, it’s the party that owns the government.

“All the politicians must belong to one party, in Nigeria, at least; they campaign on the manifesto of the party.

“If you like, this is a fact checking exercise or something similar, where the party is conscious or made aware of what the government is doing, what its elected officials are doing or are planning to do for the people on whose behalf they hold authority, ” he said.

Fashola said that elected leaders could not operate in isolation.

The former Minister for Works said that team building and seamless communication was crucial for the development of democracy.

“This kind of team building is very important; these kinds of interaction help to demystify each other before each other.

In enhancing executive/legislature relations, Fashola said such gatherings help to break down prejudices and barriers that are preconceived.

Fashola called on government to utilise all layers in society in reaching out to the people, to reduce the hardship in the land.

“All layers of government must be exploited and utilised in reaching the people. We must all put our hands around the shoulder of others,” he said.

Fashola said that, speaking as a resident, he also expected citizens who were able, to be their brother’s keepers in such tough times.

“Some are more blessed than others. We must be our brother’s keeper beyond the month of Ramadan where we share.

” It must be a way of life now, so that the burden is not too difficult for others to bear,” he said.