Mr. Joe Igbokwe’s write-up in The Punch of 03-02-15 is very interesting, but not unexpected, the man must earn his keeps, more so, like Akinwunmi Ambode he is a beneficiary of vested interest.
However, contrary to his assertion about Jimi Agbaje, by a wide margin he missed the point. Agbaje is a man in total control of his destiny, he will not be governed by erstwhile governors or any vested interest for that matter. Agbaje will work for Lagos. He is the real change Lagos desires, not a continuity in absurdity.
When voted in, he will truly transform Lagos, he will ensure probity and accountability. The corruptive system that has permeated governance in the state will become a thing of the past. Inflated contracts and leakages through Alpha Beta will be plugged. Tax payers’ money will be used solely for the benefit of the people.
There is no doubt in the minds of Lagosians that Agbaje’s candidacy is a product of well contested primaries of the P.D.P, Agbaje earned his victory. It is equally known that several months before the A.P.C primaries, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, endorsed and presented Ambode as the next governor of Lagos under the A.P.C. It is obvious that the primaries that produced Ambode was just a formality.
Agbaje has been tested and he has proved himself, he is a technocrat. He built a pharmaceutical company from the scratch, transformed it into a global manufacturing conglomerate. That is why Lagosians are trusting him to take Lagos to greater heights.
However, the question the good people of Lagos are asking is why did Ambode suddenly “resign” from the Lagos State Civil Service when he has not attained the mandatory age of retirement nor spent the maximum of 35yrs required by law or was he forced to resign as it has been rumoured? Mr. Akin Ambode must explain to the people of Lagos reasons for his sudden and untimely resignation. Lagosians cannot afford to leave the fortunes of our state in the hands of someone who has openly promised to work for a vested interest.
Truly Lagos remains a viable state. It is equally true that Lagos is the most mismanaged state in the whole country. Industries are fleeing Lagos in droves to neighbouring states/countries because of the unbearable tax regime – thus, fuelling the problem of unemployment in the last 16 years. The A.P.C government has put value on naira than on the people they are out to serve.
We all can see the legacy Alhaji Lateef Jakande (Action Governor) bequeathed to the people of Lagos State by providing affordable housing. Can Mr. Igbokwe tell us where a Level 10 officer in the service of Lagos State government can buy a two bedroom flat in Lagos? Or show us what A.P.C as a party has achieved at the national level. The recently commissioned Tejuosho market at 10.9million naira per shop is out of the reach of ordinary people! The truth is that the A.P.C Lagos is an elitist’s government. It is a government of the few for the few vested interests.
Lagos debt profile is astronomical, over N400 billion (Four Hundred Billion Naira) the largest owed by any state. With the resources available to the state, if well managed and not recklessly wasted on political empire building adventure by the vested interest, Lagos would have achieved its M.D.G.’s objectives.
Indeed to whom much is given, much is expected. That is why Lagos should vote en masse for JImi Agbaje, so that Lagos State can truly excel.
Bode Bankole is a Marketing Communications Consultant and a Politician.
