THE FASHOLA WANNA-BES
Lagos, the center of
excellence is one experimental State where specimens of good leadership,
corporate governance and mindshifts have been put to work overtime with mixed
results of awe and rejection. Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Lagos
has stayed under the “Afenifere” leadership, being the headquarters of the
Federal ruling party’s opposition. After the commercial trailblazer Ahmed
Tinubu, who created more markets and instituted more business opportunities
than before, came the fearless, intelligent, charismatic, tactical and
innovative Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF as he is fondly called). He showed Lagos
the true meaning of possibilities, defying traditions and recognizing the power
of building institutions without prejudices. BRF took on projects for
beautification, sanitization, restoration and expansion of Lagos to a megacity.
Even with the several
accolades from several entities, there are undertone arguments of his sheer
failure to restore hope to the marginal groups within the state. The bike
rider, whose commercial venture has been thoroughly reduced of profitability;
the market woman whose taxes have become higher than her children’s school fees;
and even the restaurant owner who despite the luxury and sumptuous service she
offers has been frustrated by task forces; they would argue to the last on the
elitist unpopular government that the Governor has bred over the years
But a critical look at the State’s
policies since BRF’s inauguration would show good intentions: of safeguarding
the lives of the citizens (which indeed is the essence of true governance) as
well as improving the opportunities in the State. The heavy taxes show in the
several megacity projects undertaken in the premium areas. But this is not
about the successes and woes of the BRF led government over the past 8 years.
It is however about what happens to the launch pad of prospects that has been
created by the next person to fill in the post.
The Lagos guber-race has
indeed been interesting. As a Progressive myself, I have watched the boards,
posters and news since the middle of the year and the several candidates make
me know that indeed our governor has done such a good job and has inspired hope
of office occupation and leadership. I am drawn to question the authenticity of
the several heads that have come up either in rumors or in reality to run for
the most coveted post of the South West region. One popular face would be Senator
Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon. His initials
form the last three letters of the state and that was his campaign strategy in
2003 when he was to pick the AD Party’s ticket in representation of Lagos West
but was defeated by Tokunbo Afikuyomi. His political career began since 1998.
He was elected chairman of Mushin local Government Area in 1999, Federal House
of Assembly for Mushin Federal Constituency 1 in 2003; Senate representing
Lagos west in 2007 and reelected in 2011. Experience, depth of administrative
practices, service and dedication, we can give it up for him.
Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is
another face of colorful posters all around Lagos. His civil smiles come from
some experience in political appointments. He served under the Tinubu’s tenure
as Commissioner for Science and Technology from August 2005 and was retained by
the BRF government until 2011 in that post. He was later reappointed as Commissioner
for Works and Infrastructure, an office which he has occupied and served with
doggedness and skill. Of course as a successor to the two-time Governor of Osun
State, Rauf Aregbesola, it could just be that the office of the commissioner
for works is a fore-running-governor-producing office also.
Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa is a
well trained public administrator and politician. The Morgan State University
Biological Science B.Sc. holder indeed has a lot of experience also with
governance. He served as director of planning, governor’s office from
1999-2000, actively served in the Lands ministry from 2001 till 2010 and
currently is the senator of Lagos east. If anyone would sustain the lands
developments in Lagos, who else than Ashafa?
Akinwunmi Ambode is surely a
fine man in the suits, a public finance management expert and Lagos’ Accountant-General
between 2006 and 2012. What is interesting is how this young man, the youngest
Lagos State government treasury gatekeeper at 37 has remained hidden in
“bureaucratic obscurity” up until this run up. Fashola was only a chief of
staff before he was presented.
There are others joining the race with certain
party preferences and biases. We would however hope that the primaries would
turn out free and fair. Most crucially we also hope that the selected candidate
be one of substance, character and competence. APC had better be warned that
these are crucial times and Lagosians only want a better BRF: Wrong Candidate
equates the loss of the bounty!
