The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. —Max DePre

Lagos state with an estimated population of 14,368,000 has a projected yearly growth projection of 8% and with a present projected monthly IGR of N60.31 billion would have made you think would be an eldorado but economic development of a state is not solely on the population nor the IGR but the leadership that controls the affairs of such a great state.

Most of the gains we enjoyed in terms of development as a state came from those who defined the reality of the state and were sincere to the plights of the people. Chief servant of them all was Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande.

His administration was effective and open and implemented the cardinal policies of his party. He introduced housing and educational programs targeting the poor, building new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and providing free primary and secondary education. He gave poor people's children education and many of them are now very prominent in the society today. He established the Lagos State University. Jakande's government constructed over 30,000 housing units. The schools and housing units were built cheaply, but were of great value. Some of the housing units include low cost estates in Amuwo-Odofin, Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry. The question is how did he achieve such a great feat with a limited access to resources and the present leadership of the state are yet to come to term to the new realities of leadership - effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.

Lagos is in dire need of a leader that can create solutions that are customised and tailored for the masses and not for a niche of political traders whose occupation is hinged on milking the masses for the gains of their cronies.

Lagos is about to witness a dynamic leadership change as a man with the interest of the land has decided to lead the state to a place of greatness. Henis dubbed as the new generation Jakande but we prefer to keep it simple as Mr Wale Gomez.

Wale Gomez is a thoroughbred lagosian with centuries of rich family history and whose lineage are deeply rooted in the Lagos Island area spreading across Catholic Mission street, Igbosere & Bamgbose quarters of Eko. This means he won't be selling the desires of the land as an outsider but would be totally interested in building the fortunes of the land as a son of the soil.

His educational portfolio is rich as an Alumni of the prestigious St. Gregory College Lagos Island is an erudite academician and astute Business Man who boasts of cognitive trainings across the United States of America and Europe with PGD,FCIM, in his kitty. Leadership of this era is based on emotional intelligence and human cognitive abilities hinged on data and analytics and indeed Mr Wale Gomez is ready for the task of modern governance.

Wale Gomez has often also been compared to the matyr, Funsho Williams, in many ways - mission, passion and dispositions, he is believed to have come to redeem and conclude the aborted emancipation mission of the late Funsho Williams. In similitude to his matyr and fore bearer, Wale Gomez is a silent achiever whose social and political investment is long over due for returns.

He has all these while been meticulously nurturing and monitoring his mission to liberate Lagosians via feasible and affordable welfare schemes that are targeted at restoring Lagos state to it's old glorious status of 'Small London'.

Wale Gomez has tirelessly been mobilising human and material support for the success and progress of the party home and abroad which has endeared many people to see him as the emancipation for the Lagos masses.

Lagos presently is in dire need of a leader in whose capacity is an entrepreneurial politician - one with the ability to create wealth by creating a conducive environment through policies that encourages business activities and economic advancement. Wale Gomez presently directs the affairs of many companies that presenly employs people in their scores and he values the ethics of business creativity and service which would promote many businesses to see Lagos as the only destination centre for their businesses.

Last, Lagos is in need of a leader that can align the various tribes in the state to achieve a Lagos that is for all devoid of sentiments, bickering, bigotry and ethnical hatred. A man with a robust ability to work with many people with diverse background to achieve set goals and objectives.

Mr Wale Gomez is the man that has not only the experience but the heart, art and act to make Lagos indeed become the small London it has always been wired to be. A youth blessed with the wisdom of the aged is indeed the next call for our support as we seek for a change of guard form the parochail and political traders presently managing the affairs of the state.

Wale Gomez - the touch that would lit the darkness of Lagos State.

Tope Adebayo
Writes from Lagos