18th October, 2010
The 2011 governorship race in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria is getting more interesting. As other political parties’ aspirants are busy pasting posters all over the state, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, popularly known as BRF, has chosen to use the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, to kick-start his campaign.
Even though the governor has not publicly made his intention to contest the 2011 governorship election known, the BRT has been shouting it out. The buses he launched some years ago are doing the job better, by telling Lagosians that BRF is vying for next year’s election.
For over a month now, commuters’ attention have been drawn to the advert running on several BRT buses calling for the re-election of the governor for a second term.
The branded BRT buses with BRF’s campaign adverts can be seen across the metropolis, including Ikorodu Road and Oshodi.
The colourful adverts are normally placed on the sides and back of the BRT. BRF is certainly using his influence to choose the best means to campaign for his re-election.
For now BRF and BRT are the hottest couple in town. The bridegroom and the bride are now inseparable, maybe until after the elections next year. Can we change the acronym, BRT, to Babatunde Raji Transport campaign scheme?
Who placed these adverts on the BRT? We learnt that the adverts were placed by a group known as Lovers Of Raji Fashola, LORAF, Campaign Organisation. The group for several months has been championing the re-election of BRF for a second term in office.
An unconfirmed source said the adverts cost a whooping N100 million.
BRF, don’t mind those people who are jealous that you are using the BRT to champion your campaign for re-election, after all, it is written in the Holy Bible that “The husband man that is labouring must first be a partaker of the harvest.â€
Ride on governor. Lagos will not spoil, but can other governorship aspirants do the same with the BRT?
