Ayo Oyoze Baje
AS the two-horse race for the political pearl of Alausa Government House intensifies, between Mr. Sanwo-Olu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), political pundits predict that it may be closer to call than during the previous elections of 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.The reasons are getting more obvious by the day.
Prominent amongst the salient factors currently at play are the calibre of the candidates both parties are presenting to the public, the quality of their issue-based campaigns, the interplay of ethnic sentiments and the rather amusing ‘Otoge’/ ‘Free Lagos’ movement sweeping down from the Kwara axis.
Others are the power of incumbency of the APC at both the federal centre and the state and of course, its recent electoral victory at the presidential and National Assembly polls. There are interesting strategies deployed to woo the electorate, not the best being the odious attempt to intimidate the Ibos believed to have sympathy for the PDP candidate, stemming from the Obi factor. National attention is therefore, riveted on Lagos because it is not only the microcosm of Nigeria, it is indeed the nation’s Centre of Excellence. Only the best is therefore, good for it.
Without mincing words, Agbaje, not too long ago boasted that: “This time around, we intend to take over Lagos in 2019. It is clear to us that what “Lagosians’’ are looking for is freedom from the vested interest that have gripped Lagos for nearly 20 years. We believe Lagos is doing well compared to other states; but it can do much better than it is doing now. ‘Free Lagos campaign’ is a campaign that Lagos can be better and that the alternative can be, a lot more, better than it is today”.
Such a swirling song of sentiment may have resonated with not a few Lagosians but dislodging the power brokers is no tea party. And some of his admirers keep questioning the wisdom in jettisoning his gubernatorial ambition once the curtain of the campaign cycle is drawn. Where has Agbaje been since 2015, they wonder? Turning the political apple cart here in Lagos may as well turn to one long walk to freedom that goes beyond the miasma of a midnight dream. Put succinctly, the Asiwaju factor remains one bold reality that transcends political, religious and ethnic conundrums. Those who want to see his back should have acted long before now!
Love or hate him, the famed Jagaban of Borgu,(nay, Nigerian politics) has waved the magic wand as one has severally seen when Lagos state became the ‘last man standing’ after the PDP bulldozer swept through the South West geo-political zone at a time the Ebora of Owu wielded the big stick from the seemingly impregnable Aso Rock. But that was then.
After which, it took another political master stroke from the Asiwaju to mastermind the marriage of the progressive parties, including the ACN, CPC, ANPP and a faction of APGA. That was in February, 2013. A lot of water, as they say, has since passed under the bridge of time.
And lest we forget, one man who has remained the determining factor as far as who becomes the governor of Lagos state since he vacated the seat of power in 2007 is none other again, than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Name them: the new-age infrastructure development icon, Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola(BRF), the goal-getting, futuristic Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and now thrown into the political matrix is the affable Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Always popping up against all political permutations; against all odds, two of the aforementioned have built on the solid, leadership legacies left behind by one man-Tinubu! The fascinating factors that stand Sanwo-Olu in good stead therefore, are consistency, continuity in governance and of course, constancy of purpose as the great thinker, Benjamin Disraeli would identify amongst the sterling attribute of success.
The thinking is that it would do Lagosians a world of good should they pitch their political tent with the so called ‘devil’ they know rather than an angel whose wings may have been weakened by intra-party squabbles. We recall for instance, that Agbaje’s surprise defeat of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro in 2015 did not go down well with the latter. He instituted a law suit which was later withdrawn on the promptings of the PDP hierarchy. Even at that, APC will underrate Agbaje and the PDP at their own peril. They are a wounded predator, ready to prowl on any stray prey!
Consider Agbaje’s promises to deliver the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Light Rail and a minimum of a thousand megawatts electricity in four years. Add these to the promised removal of toll-gates en route to Lekki, provide quality and affordable healthcare, good education, blue economy with functional water transportation, as well as employment for the youths. According to him, the over 20 percent unemployment rate of Lagos was largely caused by lack of electricity, adding that the state needed 3,000 megawatts to drive small, medium and large scale industries.
On his part, Sanwo-Olu has pledged to institute a more inclusive government, involving more women and the youth, to provide workerts free Wifi and restore, Lagos sports glory. Said he: “My hope is to reach the bottom of the pyramid in the state, those that are not privileged to see me one- on-one but only hear of my name. Governance is about the people and for the people. What I will do in government is for the greatest number of the people to have access to public goods”, he said.
He stated that he would come up with an emergency approach in solving the environmental problems facing the state, saying that after examining critically the challenges of the waste management, he would further employ an holistic approach that would put an end to the menace.
With the APC in Lagos restrategizing their campaign method by removing the ethnic wedge between the Yoruba and Igbo, to that of pragmatic partnership with the Nidigbo, the political pendulum may be swinging in Sanwo-Olu’s direction. Indeed, the Ohaneze has promised to deliver 2 million votes, come Saturday. And should he win, is he prepared for the onerous tasks ahead?
Baje writes from Lagos