8th April, 2015
By Mac Durugbo
Given the eye-catching and life-fulfilling infrastructure already put down by the present administration in Lagos State as well as the numerous on-going projects aimed at supporting the mega city status of the State and the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been at the helm of affairs in this Centre of Excellence in the last 16 years, delivering good governance, one would think that the installation of another APC Governor in the State needed no much efforts. In fact, one would ordinarily think that no much campaigns and rallies were needed to convince the people that the choice of the party for the 2015 governorship election was another star.
But the truth of the matter is that Lagos is in the eye of the storm. Being the former Federal Capital Territory and now the business and financial capital of Nigeria with over 60 percent of the nation’s industries as well as its largest airports and seaports domiciled here, Lagos has always been the desire of the ruling party at the federal level to possess. Since the return of democracy in 1999, it has been a battle between the ruling party and the main opposition party, one to “capture” and the other to retain hold of the territory. As a result, whoever is, or indeed aspires to be, Governor of this City of Aquatic Splendour is automatically in the eye of the storm. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in the eye of the storm for the eight years he governed Lagos. He was constantly in battle with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled Federal Government over issues bordering on the rights of the federating states. He earned the unenviable accolade of “The Last Man Standing” in 2003 for being the only Governor of the southwest states to survive the PDP tsunami which swept the other southwest states into the ruling party. Governor Babatunde Fashola has been in the eye of the storm in the last eight years. His storm could, however, be said to have been greatly watered down by his style of leadership and achievements. He has made Lagos a reference state and the Federal Government can only bow at his feet, so to say. But this has made the battle even more bitter hence the talk of “Capturing Lagos”.
So the APC Governorship Candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is in the eye of the storm right now. But his arises from two challenges: first, from the towering image of the man from whom he is going to take over and second, from the ruling party. The first challenge can be likened to a theatre performance where a renowned actor has just left the stage accompanied with a standing ovation from an appreciative audience. That audience is not likely to fall over for the next actor. Indeed, the incoming actor will need “double anointing”, so to say, to catch the attention of that audience. It is natural among humans to feel that way, especially when the out-going actor has performed exceptionally well as the incumbent Governor has done. The issue here is whether or not the incoming actor would perform as exceptionally as the out-going; in this case whether the aspiring Governor would embrace and uphold the great tradition of excellence for which this state is known. That feeling, no doubt, will pass with time. But the wisdom of the ages also provides that every individual comes into the world carrying his or her unique and personal “Charm” that enables him or her to win (or lose) the battle of life. That Charm is an embodiment of the whole personality of an individual which he carries along as he goes through the journey of life, meeting and interacting with people, engaging in business, politics or whatever human activities. It is not destiny but it possesses the power to shape destiny. It is called Character, a combination of all the qualities that make up the personality of an individual. They include such admirable qualities as integrity, honesty, humility, sincerity, commitment, courage, confidence, passion and determination, among others. It is so important in the life of an individual, but especially in leadership, that many works of research have and are still being done on it in pursuit of knowledge and qualities of leadership.
And so, irrespective of the internationally acclaimed transformational stewardship of the present administration under the leadership of Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his sterling legacy of good governance, the APC Gubernatorial candidate in the state in the April 11, 2015, election has continued to traverse the state preaching continuity of governance and selling himself as the fittest man to take over from the incumbent Governor. Several factors, however, stand in his favour. One is the fact that he has been endorsed by knowledgeable Lagosians including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man who has won the admiration of both friends and foes for his ingenuity and almost uncanny ability to discover stars in leadership. Again, the outstanding achievements of his would-be predecessor will give him a good ride. But it is his personal “Charm” that will eventually carry these other factors to the electorate.
Fortunately, he is not lacking in this. Although yet untried in the seat of power at the Lagos House, Akinwunmi Ambode has begun to manifest some of those admirable qualities. From what has already been made public of his personality, he is a humble, honest and committed man to whom humility comes as a way of life. His campaign train was in Ajeromi Ifelodun recently where he met with a cross-section of artisans, bricklayers, welders, mechanics, hairdressers and other tradesmen and women as well as ethnic groups and clergy men (League of Imams and Christian Association of Nigeria) in that community. It was a family meeting of sorts. As usual, his message was of continuity of the tradition of excellence that has been established in this state, especially since the return of democratic governance in the country. His humility and honesty were evident in his introductory remarks, delivered in Pidgin English, to the excited audience in the capacity filled Bolaji Tinubu Multipurpose Hall, Ojo Road, Layeni, Ifelodun. After apologizing for his lateness to the occasion which was caused by the usual traffic snarl in Apapa, a situation which, he said, gave him a glimpse of the work he has to do in the area when voted into power, he spoke eloquently about his plans especially for the youths in the area. He was quite practical and focused about the things he intends doing in the area. It was very obvious from his speech that he was on a familiar terrain. He was more of a home boy in the area, he said, having started his Civil Service career in the area as Council Treasurer in 1998 on his return from his study abroad.
However, the occasion was more of an interactive session than a speech making one. After his introductory remarks, the equally elated Ambode told the different trade associations and ethnic groups that his mission was to hear from them what they expect from his administration in the next four years. Midway into the programme, however, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, made his entry. Though he was not expected at the venue, his coming galvanized the audience into frenzy. Osinbajo said he was in the vicinity “to open a small office” and hearing that the Governorship Candidate was having an occasion in the area, decided to pay his respect. Urging all patriotic Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards as the only weapon to change Nigeria, Prof. Osinbajo declared: “It is us who will change Nigeria and not foreigners. March 28, 2015, this country must change leadership at the centre. If they like let them postpone the date of the elections for as long as they like, they will not change our destiny. The reason they are working against General Buhari is because they know he will tackle corruption. Corruption is the most important thing we must eradicate in order to change Nigeria”. It was as short and as simple as that, but he got a standing ovation as he made his way out of the hall.
That over, the programme continued with representatives of the various groups and associations invited to present their requests on behalf of their groups. As was expected, it was a mixed bag of requests from the different groups. While the ethnic groups – the Igbo, Hausa, Nupe and South-South – asked for representation in the incoming government, some of the trade associations wanted recognition while others requested for support to enable them establish themselves in the state. Responding, Ambode promised to make every effort to meet their requests. He added: “Please hold me responsible on these promises. We are going to hold this kind of Town Hall meetings at least three times a year. It will be an opportunity to tell me whether I am doing well or not. If I fail to fulfil my promises to you, you will tell me to pack my bags and go”. It was a simple message but delivered with such charm that earned him a standing ovation from the audience.
As for the other eye of the storm, the APC candidate has no problem. This is because the APC hold the ace in this state. Aside the fact that it has delivered good governance in the last 16 years, the other contending party is encumbered by its many shortcomings. It has performed abysmally in the last 16 years, rendering the country poorer and leaving her palpitating. There are also the baggage of insecurity, poor electricity supply, mass unemployment and many other vices in its trail. Nigerians must understand that what is at stake now is not about any individual; it is about the party and about ideology. The Peoples Democratic Party, in the last 16 years, has manifested itself as a conglomerate of capitalists who have used the party platform to enrich themselves and unleashed a rule of tyranny, impunity and arbitrariness over Nigerians. They have no vision for a great Nigeria or any good plans for the ordinary Nigerian except to keep him impoverished in order to keep him in perpetual bondage. They recycle themselves year in year as if the country is bereft of intellectuals and resourceful people with the capacity to lead this nation out of the economic bondage they have created. However, this writing is not about them but about embracing the great tradition of excellence that has been established in Lagos State by the All Progressives Congress government.
•Durugbo is a political analyst based in Lagos