The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said he no longer wants to be addressed as ‘Your Excellency’ in his engagements with citizens and other official duties.
Sanwo-Olu, who revealed this in a statement on his Twitter, said the decision came following a review of certain features of citizen-government relations which impede the genuine expression of the democratic spirit of the society and the meaningful exercise of the sovereignty of the people.
He said he now wants to be addressed simply as Mr Governor, to constantly remind him that he had been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead the state.
Read his full statement: “Fellow Lagosians, as I embrace the name Mr. Governor, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strip down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance.
Executive arrogance that undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people has brought us here
It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities.
Thenceforth, I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy.
A salutation that sanitises the paraphernalia of office and reminds us all of our imperfections and mortality. To give official effect to this announcement, I shall issue tomorrow an executive order that will formally ensure full compliance with this new policy.”