Certain public office holders are, by nature, not blessed with visibility which, ordinarily, their position should attract. One of such public office holders is Governor Jonas Jang of Plateau State. Since assuming office along with his thirty six other colleagues, (that is including President Umaru Yar’Adua) about the only time Governor Jang attracted national attention was when he challenged the authority of the Federal Government to inquire into causes of local disturbances in his state, arising from All-Nigerian People’s Party allegation of rigging of Jos North local government election results by the PDP.

Lately however, Governor Jang enjoyed lavish media attention for his singular sincerity in conceding what most Nigerians privileged to visit Lagos in recent years have already acknowledged – that Governor Babatunde Fashola is ahead of his rivals. To stop there will be unfair to commend Governor Jang for his courage.
Governor Fashola’s distinction was first focused in this column exactly a year ago when he had hardly settled down. It is therefore satisfying that since then, almost everybody expresses the same view.

There is this seeming alarm to say that with his performance, Governor Fashola has drawn Lagos back fifty years. But that exactly is what he has done except that the drawback is for a good and indeed very solid purpose. Only those who lived in Lagos fifty years ago can well appreciate how the man (Fashola) has deservingly taken us back to how well we were governed, how we felt being properly governed and how every set-up was orderly.

Nobody was necessarily horse-whipped to fall in line, drainages were open and clean, canals flowed freely, such water outlets were cleared and so maintained virtually everyday, water supply flowed to meet all domestic and industrial needs, wastes were collected or at the worst dumped at designated sites and properly disposed off to ensure clean environment.

Fifty years ago was the eve of Nigeria’s independence. There was little or no effort to enforce traffic regulations because everybody (motorists, cyclists and motor cyclists) obeyed the rules routinely as law-abiding citizens. You tried to ride through a disallowed route, even ordinary kids would deliver the shame by shouting “one way, one way, one way continuously.

Such was the instant shame imposed on traffic law-breakers to force him to turn back instantly or, in any case, he would somewhere on the street be stopped by traffic policemen and eventually prosecuted in time. These days, even drivers in police vehicles drive against barred routes.
In taking Lagos back fifty years ago, Governor Fashola has restored, or at least is trying to restore sanity to our environment and way of life.
For some forty years, certain otherwise thoroughfares have been abandoned or made impassable not only for motorists in Lagos but also for self-respecting motorists.

Fifty years ago, Victoria Street was the main commercial and business street in Lagos. Whether day or night, there was free movement of motorists and shoppers. It was the only exit from the Island through the Carter Bridge to Iddo and the Mainland. At night, Victoria Street was well lit to everybody’s delight at its peak during Christmas and new year decorations. Victoria Street was Nigeria’s Oxford Street (in London).

Then came independence fifty years ago. Victoria Street, Lagos was re-named Nnamdi Azikiwe Street. Within a few years, everything came to a halt. Gradually, it became impossible to pass through as lawless elements, cloth sellers and other market women spread their wares to the street with illegal structures.
Nnamdi Azikiwe street eventually became a fertile area for local boys to harass passers-by, be they motorists, pedestrians or shoppers. Idumota end of the road became an enclave (within Lagos) for the jobless and criminals to provoke, at any convenient time, violence and stampede, an atmosphere cashed upon to rob shoppers and loot traders around.

As a measure of our value for culture, history and tradition, the monumental law court building at Tinubu Square was pulled down in civil war years, to provide on the site, a purposed fountain of unity carrying a gas touch for the same purpose. If today we are searching for unity, the fountain at Tinubu Square became a waste dump for all kinds, and the touch quenched as the fountain stopped functioning.

For some thirty years, there was no safe or quick route through Nnamdi Azikiwe Street. From either Mainland or back from Island, Carter Bridge, second Mainland bridge or IBB bridge all offer faster and safer transit. That was the Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola inherited.
Three weeks ago, to confirm general acclamation of Fashola’s efforts in that part of Lagos, real evidence was necessary. From the new fountain at Tinubu Square, my drive through to Iddo through Nnamdi Azikiwe Street and Idumota, on to Carter Bridge took a maximum of ten minutes. It was the same jolly ride back from Iddo through Carter Bridge, Idumota, Kosoko Palace, Balogun Street to Broad Street and Marina.

It was quite exciting vividly reliving the Lagos experience of fifty years ago. Around Ereko area, Governor Fashola’s efforts may be inhibited because as virtually a residential area, private vehicles are parked on both sides leaving only the middle lane which somehow slows down the traffic. All the same, this should be a manageable headache compared to my experience many years ago.

The funeral service of a friends wife took place at Ereko Methodist Church. That compelled by attendance and for almost three hours, the traffic was at a virtual standstill.

Back at Tinubu Square, as part of Governor Fashola’s impact on Lagos State, the fountain at Tinubu Square has been resuscitated and now not only functions but well maintained especially in terms of security to keep off undesirable elements.
What can we say about the beautification of open areas in Lagos? The landscaping, the very green grass, the flowers etc. Again, it is back to the good old days when residing in or visiting the then capital from the regions was like a privilege abroad.

For all these achievements, the only possible snag is lack of maintenance including regular monthly trimmings of flowers, mowing of grasses and non-tolerance of local boys turning the beautiful spots to dumping ground for all kinds of waste.

Other areas of Lagos especially on the mainland have equally been opened up specifically for easier flow of traffic. Yaba bus stop has been decongested, Ojuelegba has been expanded and kept clean, Murtala Muhammed Way now enhances free flow of traffic to Oyingbo. Despite reports of improved traffic situation from Oyingbo to Iddo or from there back to Oyingbo, it is still frightening to take the risk.

Such was the magnitude of the deterioration in Lagos traffic when Governor Fashola came in two years ago. The improvement he has recorded is not just through widening or opening up of hitherto blocked main roads but he has also constructed ordinary by-passes which has drastically reduced congestion in business or commercial areas.

In the past, any motorist from the Mainland, Victoria Island or Ikoyi, and aiming at returning to any of these areas through the stadium along Muson Centre, would turn right to Tafawa Balewa Square to merge with equally heavy traffic from Awolowo Road and drive by St. Saviour’s Church on to the old NITEL Building, merging again with the traffic from Broad street and Marina, all struggling by the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess on to Victoria Island or Ikoyi or the Mainland.
That traffic burden has now been removed. From Muson Centre, any returning traffic turns left just before Government House and still immediately turns another left to return to Victoria Island without congesting the traffic along Tafawa Balewa Square or the old NITEL.

Equally from Muson Centre, any traffic returning to Ikoyi turns left before government house and immediately turns right for a free mount of the overhead bridge to Awolowo Road, Mainland or Ikoyi.

That short cut by Lagos State government now offers the traffic a pleasant ride at any hour of the day.

Last week, an official of Lagos State Traffic Maintenance Agency was jailed four years for demanding and receiving bribe of ten thousand naira. Governor could not have been shocked by that stern measure. For a long time, there have been reports of the criminal activities of these gangsters.
Fashola meant and still means well to sanitize Lagos traffic with LASTMA. That is no excuse for those offered jobs on the agency to criminally enrich themselves by intimidating suspected traffic regulations offenders.

The truth is that many of those faulted by LASTMA, especially foreigners don’t even commit any offence. But once the alleged offenders are pulled aside, the so-called LASTMA officials openly demand money with the option of intimidating punitive measures of fifty thousand naira fine, payment or towing charges and psychiatric treatment.

LASTMA officials are at best unfit for their functions and at the worst, extortionists. Yet, Governor Fashola must retain the agency if only for psychological purpose to contain or at least minimize Lagos road madness. He must of course, ensure that LASTMA officials do not discredit his (Fashola’s) sincere aim.
This Lagos State governor is a kind of enigma. Babatunde Fashola is the only one in his position, or indeed public office holder who does not create any impression that he is doing the society any kind of favour in spending tax-payers’ money to provide amenities. Indeed, Governor Fashola is one governor who might not need any lecture at center for political studies if any existed before he assumed office.

Fashola does not revel in any ego-boosting publicity despite diligent and adequate discharge of his obligations to the electorate. Noticeably, all he promised and on assumption of office was good governance. Yet, he is seen, felt and acknowledged for his unquantifiable achievement one after another – infrastructure, environment, security, health delivery, water supply, control of the notorious traffic madness etc.

For his humility, this must be said of Governor Fashola. When Nigerians or even foreigners want to know or feel the purpose of governance, at least in improving society, let them come to Lagos and experience the showpiece. The longer such visitors came to Lagos last, the more they will relish the dramatic in the entire surrounding and service delivery.

For others in his position and with far less to prove their performance, the battle cry, so prematurely is ambition to be re-elected for a new term in six years time. Mention that to Governor Fashola. He smiles off rather modestly to re-assert his focus on his present performance.
We needed Governor Fashola to drag us back fifty years to regain sanity and purpose of governance.