The Need For Continuity In Lagos State

What is the purpose of a government? The response to this poser cannot be far-fetched. A recourse to political theory won’t even be necessary. A government, if it is good, alleviates poverty. If not, it elevates it. When Nigerians trooped to the polls to elect those who will run the affairs of their country, they did so in good faith. They hoped that things can always get better before they get worse. They knew that while no one has found a modern-day magic wand to drive away all plagues at once, some leaders can inspire confidence and with time build structures that will improve the lot of a great percentage of the populace. Lagosians are hopeful. They are full of expectations that a quick positive turnaround of events is around the corner. Such a wish has turned out to be a good judgment. This is a state whose effective governance has eluded the comprehension of nearly all the previous leaders. Most of those who had found themselves at the helm were often opportunists whose ideas of leadership did not include responsibility.

On 29th May, 2007, the mantle of leadership felt on Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) and since then, he has not ceased to excel and excite. Such is the charismatic aura he wields as the Joshua of his people.

At his advent, Fashola drummed it into the ears of all that his administration’s policy thrust is the provision of purposeful, effective and credible leadership that is capable of liberating the state from non achievement and despondency. Fashola then took time to adumbrate his vision which is built on the foundation his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, laid between 1999 and 2007.

Fashola looked at education as the systematic course of instruction, giving intellectual and moral training to persons, bringing up of the young, helping the young to develop, to bring out the best in him, and evolve an integral personality. This thesis on education was emphasised in his principal canons of human development; viz mental development, heart or spiritual self realisation and health and physical well-being. BRF knew the issues of education as another critical instrument in the battle against poverty and gave it a very serious consideration, particularly because the world economy is knowledge-driven and a central pillar of any nation. Consequently, he set a high premium on education and training to shore up capacity building.

In Lagos today, the enrolment in both primary and post primary institutions has tripled thereby pushing the state miles ahead. On this score, Fashola is far ahead of most of our elected public office holders who believe that only in the erection of short-lived monuments that bear their names are we to notice they are performing. The problem with this mentality is that such mementos decay and slide in the long run into oblivion a couple of years after their patrons are out of office. Why? Because such memorials don’t address lasting, fundamental issues of development. They are largely political-patronage projects.

Majority of the people of the state are taking a front stage in education. They reason that the blessings of good minds illustrated in learning and application of values to upturn baffling challenges are made available to them. Education will cause the populace to be a better citizen and a more productive player in an evolving economy. With education, most of the prevailing diseases can be prevented if not completely eradicated and poverty reduced to the minimum.

The public are giving credit to Fashola for the hyperactivity in all areas of his administration thereby causing his second term in office forgone conclusion. The groups such as businessmen and woman, professionals, traditional rulers, National and State lawmakers, market women as well as commercial drivers and motorcycle riders have publicly declared support for the return of Fashola in 2011 as a governor. These groups with capacity for sophisticated reasoning represent the voice of the people. This is properly captured by the saying of former American President, Thomas Jefferson, hear him: “The will of the people is more powerful than a standing army.”

No doubt, the journey so far has been challenging and eventful for Fashola but his scorecard is intimidating and encouraging for the people of Lagos State to vote him for a second term. Afterall, one good term begat another term. This would enable him complete various projects embarked upon to deliver the much needed dividends of democracy to the populace. Recently, he was quoted as saying: “I am committed to pursuing policies that would guarantee the protection of life and property, and funds accruing to the State would be judiciously managed to enhance the quality of education, healthcare and other amenities that would provide comfort for the people.”

Again and most importantly, there are multifarious reasons why Lagosians must support continuity in the State. Firstly, I have come away with a feeling that BRF is a soul with a burden to serve and lay down-rock-like principles of governance that would guide generations of public service holders and uplift the conditions of living of the people. He properly interprets public trust offered by the constitution as an opportunity for two objectives: personal sacrifice and marked improved in the lives of the ordinary such that the governed would note a difference between their present and their past.

Secondly, the oppositions are bereft of core ideals that can motivate their work and cannot march the vision of Fashola in any ramifications and would jaundice the laudable projects of the present dispensation in the State. For instance, a cursory look at the statement credited to the gubernatorial candidate of PDP Dr. Dosunmu to scrap LASTMA and KAI which has engaged over 10,000 Lagosians is a test case which cannot shape people positively. The meaning is that he is prepared to pauperize the populace and add more to the unemployment indices in the country. Obviously, no sane folk will cast his or her vote for such a candidate. This is so because he has breached the wall of status quo.

With Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), we see a governor who says his four years in office have brought in steady streams of empowerment indices to the people. But whereas he admits that there is now a difference in the lives of the people between when he first moved in the saddle and now, he insists that more still can be done to establish what he calls “irreversible foundations” of development.

Forty-six months since the inauguration of his government, people have seen concrete achievements to warrant the current endorsement for Fashola’s second term. His achievement record is in many people’s judgment, a vote winner. The people want more of his ground breaking achievements, hence the reverberating endorsement. Among those who agree Fashola should be offered another term are Duro Onabule, former Chief Press Secretary to IBB who gave the incumbent a tacit support: “…Governor Fashola is staking his popularity with self confidence of the people’s choice if elections hold tomorrow” and His Royal Highness (Alhaji) Sani Kabir, Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos State and Chairman, Council of Arewa Chiefs. Hear His Royal Highness: “I support Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) recontesting the election and coming back as Governor in 2011 … because he has performed more than any other governor that has ever ruled Lagos State and I challenge anybody to disprove that.”

Alhaji Sani Kabir, mind you, isn’t a frivolous fellow who would bet his priceless reputation on a governor who only intends to be a mere occupant of the office. No wonder the wise saying that “If a person lives long enough, he will indeed have swallowed up such tonnage of beef that will add up to the size of an elephant.”

Generally, the acceptability of Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) by all and sundries is as a result of his hardwork, sharp vision, unparallel achievements and firm promise not to let Lagosians nay Nigerians down. It is therefore crystal clear that democracy is about people, service to the people. This derived chiefly from United States President, Abraham Lincoln’s definition on November 19, 1863. He ended the famous Gettysburg address with this declaration “… this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, and by the people, for the people, shall not perish from earth.”

The new birth of freedom to Lagos State in this case is Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), so electorates will need to keep on cultivating the company of those that can advance its interests.

— Udiong writes from Lagos State