By Mercy IyeneAbasi Etim
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I have become an ardent admirer of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. His effective governance during these challenging times demonstrates why he stands among Nigeria’s finest leaders.
What caught my attention was the way this man, who was at the time, only a few months in office, responded to perhaps what can be regarded as the greatest disruption mankind has known.
It was big news when COVID hit Lagos, Nigeria. The prediction from far and wide was grim and brutal. But no one could blame the media for their deadly speculations.
The inception of the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a dramatic loss of human life globally and had posed an inestimable damage to public health, food security, and economic impact.
This pandemic brought world leaders to their knees. It left religious leaders standing completely bereft. It took out industries and erased businesses, defied systems that had been in place for decades, it changed our way of life and many lives were lost.
The US, UK, China, and many other strong countries were bent and battered by the pandemic and so many predicted that in Lagos, Nigeria, we were done for.
But Babajide Sanwo-Olu proved beyond any doubt that he was a man born to lead in a time of crisis.
The governor provided overall leadership in the state since the first case of COVID-19 was announced in Lagos on February 27, 2020, and was at the forefront of managing the pandemic in the nation.
And through it all, he was courageous, empathetic, innovative, focused and resourceful.
Although Lagos remained the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria, the methodical handling of the virus by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu was truly exemplary.
Right now, Nigeria is going through a period of economic crisis- food shortage and inflation, and the people’s governor Babajide has bought out his A-game to combat the economic hardship through intervention programs too numerous to be listed here. He continues to redefine who a true leader should be.
His administration has been driven by the simple desire to deliver the dividends of democracy in every sector and in every neighborhood to ensure that no one is left behind. From subsidizing transportation to medical intervention to literally taking food to the vulnerable in their homes, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done his best to alleviate suffering in Lagos State.
And this perhaps why he is so beloved. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s empathy can be felt and seen. His work is such that everyone, not only the rich can benefit. His administration has been one that has been close to the people enough to feel their pulse, understand their needs and meet them.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu is humble. Even as the number one man in Lagos State, he constantly seeks to hear the voices of his people.
He is one governor who has been accused of being too “available” and meek. But Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a man of compassion, passionate about his people and he governs with conviction.
Because in reality, that is what it means to be a leader in the time of crisis.