Opinion: This is the concluding debate of the contest between Ambode and Agbaje

by Odutola Odumosu

 

AMBODE Agbaje2Lagosians have a choice to make, between selecting a predictable candidate who will deliver at the level his party has set, or gambling on a candidate who is akin to an electoral machinery, hand-picked in a manipulated party primaries to delivery Lagos to the vested interest in the PDP.

Lagos still represents that best of what Nigeria has to offer. Even more so, its an example of the possibilities of a united Nigeria working together, for each other. The ethnic and religious diversity makes it colourful in contrast to the projection such variance has had on Nigeria.

Lagos has an Identity, a brand, which make its possible to completely separate Lagos from the image problem Nigeria suffers. Citizens in Lagos live a Lagos reality, one that embraces hustle and brilliance.

Selecting a leader for Lagos should go beyond gut feelings, looks and being articulate. It is a decision that must be scrutinised to weigh capacity to deliver and meet the expectations, and what Lagos requires to move forward for the next four years. The article will just provide a bit of background and an attempt at predicting the future with both parties and candidates.

A bit of History

PDP has not participated in direct Governance in Lagos for the last 16 years, but it has had a part to play as the ruling party at the federal level to the administration of Lagos.

Basing PDP’s contribution to Lagos on the years of neglect rising from the misunderstanding of two past leader will be unfair. While Dr. Jonathan has been Lagos friendly, the question is what did he do for Lagos, the commercial nerve and international entry point of the Nation he presided over for the last four years. PDP failed to optimise the potentials of Lagos by playing a passive role.

The federal government is still working on the road leading to the nations largest seaport in Apapa, with more effort being put in by the state to the completion and sanitisation of the axis. They completely abandoned the Lagos Badagry express-way, an International link between Nigeria and its Ecowas counterparts. Failed to see potential of opening up and completing the Lagos Ibadan express-way despite the huge migration of residential population from Lagos, Ibadan and Ogun towards that axis. The federal government failed to see the various potential economic impact many of its abdicated responsibilities to the nations commercial capital could have garnered, an attitude consistent with the 16years of the PDP at the Federal Government.

In contrast, the shared responsibility of building Lagos was left to the Lagos ruling party, one which has changed name on many occasions, but still bears resemblance of the same party members. The APC government in Lagos has embarked on some the nations most memorable projects in recent time. The Lagos BRT project has become a part of the Lagos identity, the government recently took over the responsibility of the federal government by kick-starting massive reconstruction of the CMS – Badagry 10 Lane express-way and Metro-line project. The state government dealt with one of Lagos most devastating ecological challenge by fencing off the Bar Beach cost line and saved Lagosians millions due to ocean surge, a project which received not financial contribution from the federal ecological fund.

 

In the health sector, Federal hospitals in Lagos have been in a maintenance mode with no intent of improving them to meet global standards. There was time the LUTH was the go to hospital and Island Maternity took up the most complicated maternity procedures. Then institutions such as LASUTH were glorified clinics. Today, the government in Lagos has not only provided deliberate infrastructural improvement to its hospitals, its has radically upgraded its community hospitals and primary health centres. LASUTH has far surpassed LUTH in utility, and almost all local government now boast of well built general hospitals.

Let us move on.

 

Governance

Lagos is a state that demands for what it wants, gets it and then grumbles when she gets it. For years people in Lagos clamoured for intervention with Okada riders and the frequency of accidents, the Lagos state government stepped in and go rid of them from the statistically worse routes on major express-ways. The people complained about a dirty metropolis, eyesore not befitting for a West African economic capital, the APC government rid major points in the states of dirt including the infamous Oshodi, turning many of these areas into parks that now serves as picnic areas or car parks. To sustain and push on cleansing of the state, the government also embarked on massive drive for tree planting and strengthened the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, an agency of government which has become a consultant to his fellow states, and other West African nations. But this drive didn’t go on without complaints, people in various markets complained of their wares being destroyed, some claimed the move was too aggressive, some even wanted the state government to stop, while others gave the party the Tree Planting moniker. The residents along the Lekki Epe express-way need to cast their mind back to the state of that road before concessioning, while the argument for tolling is economic, the need for states to get creative and start shedding huge infrastructure cost remain critical.

For much of the talks on economic diversification, the federal government has shown no visible intent to commit to a plan. If the crude dries up in Nigeria today, the Federal government will be in Lagos to beg for alms. Some might attribute this to the strategic advantage of Lagos being Lagos, but that will be forgetting that all the 36 states started together in 1999 with total dependence on Federal Allocation, and the current position of financial independence Lagos enjoys is not by accident or design.

Candidates

Many argument has been made about the individual records of both candidates. Being an experienced public servant in no way confers preference or privilege to one’s capacity to be a good administrator. Ambode’s long resume is a distinction of an astute public servant, and Agbaje’s long run of success as a private sector man and employer of labour is no less commendable.

Where the question lies in how each best fits this position. Being a Lagos governor is more complicated than being that of Osun or Ekiti, where all you do is wait for Federal Allocation, pay civil servants, setup one poultry and hang out with the boys. Running Lagos is like running Nigeria, you need a team, a very good team. Governance in Lagos is real-time, eyes must constantly be on the objective.

Governor Fashola has set a record in Lagos with his ability to combine efficient service delivery with effective communication. An attribute which has become the criteria Lagosians are looking for in the next governor. The apathy towards Ambode has been that he’s not as good a communicator as Fashola, while the suspicion for Agbaje is that while he might match up with Fashola in communicating, he doesn’t have the experience required to marshal the efficiency for service delivery in a state as complicated as Lagos.

2015 – 2019

The entire debate leads up to what might happen between these future dates should any of them win. For Jimi Agbaje, there’s bound to be a lot of pressure on him to deliver, more-so as Lagos will be the epicentre of PDP after losing the Federal seat. But he’s bound to be undermined by an existing APC structure that has been painstakingly built over the Last 16 years. He most likely will switch up directors at most state agencies and fix his own loyal men, many whom will be new to the workings of the government. He might be tempted to dismiss the states’ tax consultant setting the states revenue drive back. There surely will be a lot of conflict with the ruling political class of Lagos which his political party will attempt to upsurge. The conclusion is, the political vendetta many of his party big wigs has with many APC chieftains might be the major focus of his administration, and major reversals will be witnessed in an attempt to gain full control of the all state machinery.

For Ambode, while he will fit in seamlessly as he’s been a part of the government since the ’80s, questions need to be asked of what is capacity is to tackle issues outside of finance. Lagos state is a complicated state, and half of the job of administration is to effectively understand these complications and communicate them effectively. Ambode’s strength might be his weakness, the focus on numbers alone is not what’s required of an administrator. There are already talks of his aggressive tax drives, one which given the state of the economy and with growing sectors especially in IT, he will need to show a side of him that has not been in the conversation through the electioneering campaign.

Conclusion

For Lagos, the worst case of getting it wrong between the two candidates doesn’t spell doom, as both political parties understand there are no second chances. But while Lagos should be open to anyone who desires to lead, Lagosians should cast their votes for the best team. Teams run governments. PDP’s team has Bode George, Ogunlewe and Obanikoro, while Ambode’s team has Tinubu, Fashola and Aregbesola. Those names will no doubt be an influence on any candidate that emerges. Ambode’s’ team has proved itself capable of delivering good governance and reducing the financial dependence of the state on the Federation. Jimi’s on the other hand, has recorded no such commendation, George has spent some time in prison, Ogunlewe’s tenure as minister had no memory distinction and Obanikoro is still in the news for election manipulation.

Lagosians have a choice to make, between selecting a predictable candidate who will deliver at the level his party has set, or gambling on a candidate who is akin to an electoral machinery, hand-picked in a manipulated party primaries to delivery Lagos to the vested interest in the PDP.

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Odutola Odumosu tweets from @ttola

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

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