Lagosians have keenly followed the break of news on the secod term endorsement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his state assumed highest organ of unconstitutional body known as Governors Advisory Council (GAC), which only exists in Lagos state, out of the thirty six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Sanwo-Olu who emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in 2019, after the then incumbent governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode was denied a second term for the excuse of having performed very well but failed to be a good party man, as quoted by Asiwaju, during an interview with journalists at the climax of the rumblings that ousted an elected governor. An action that could be best described as a ‘coup de tat’, if it were a military regime.
Sanwo- Olu’s endorsement for a second term, obviously may not have come as result of a better performance, when compared vis-a-vis with Akinwunmi Ambode in all spheres of the state, but as it is said that he that blows the piper dictates its tune. This may have been the case, with this administration emershed in several misdeeds and criticisms coming from his demonstrated actions seen to be the acts of his master’s script.
These included his request cum ordering of soldiers and subsequent denial of his actions against civil Nigerian youths during the EndSARS protest that led to the alleged massacre of innocent and peaceful Nigerian youths who were carrying out their constitutional rights of protest on October 2020 at the Lekki toll gate, is enough crime for him to have been booted out of office, irrespective
of how good a party man he has been.
His alleged role in the collapse of Ikoyi high rise under constructions belonging to a close associate Mr. Femi Osibona, is another heinous crime that would have seen him resign in a sane clime, as claims were that the stop order on the construction site could only be lifted from the Lagos house which he presides over.
In comparison with his predecessor, Mr Ambode, was obvious even to a blind man that rather been a “pointuos man” that Ambode from inception had plans for the state which was carried out even from his first day in office to his last with massive construction of developmental structures across the the three senatorial districts. Within our primary constituency; Alimosho, Ambode’ s performance sent jittery signals to lord of Lagos state and in the current dispensation such is yet to be seen.
For the records, it will be wise to remind Lagosians some of the landmark achievements of Ambode across the state; Agege/Pen Cinema bridge, Abule-Egba, Lekki-Ajah bridge, Oshodi inter change bus terminus, 114 Roads across 57 LGs/LCDAs, Aboru-Abessan Link Bridge, 22 roads within Agbado-Okeodo LCDA and a link bridge to Sango Otta were constructed from his fission of opening up Lagos state through building of ring roads, primary health centres and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund which is now a shadow of itself just to mention but few.
The abysmal performance of the current administration has further increased the hardship on Lagosians who now sleep with their both eyes wide open due to shoddy security architecture and management system that have led to the deaths of many innocent Lagosians with the recent being that of a young female entrepreneur (name withheld) whose gruesomely murdered was linked to a bus rapid transit (BRT), a state owned transport system.
It is therefore very clear that his second term endorsement is nothing but a bait for his master’s presidential aspirations. In the early days of Mr. Snwo-Olu’s administration, there were grapevines that he would only be serving out the second term of Mr. Ambode, but that has to change for the master would have justification to meet with other governors under his party whom most of them were colleagues of Ambode with another denial of yet another second term in a row, while seeking their support for his presidential aspiration.
However, it is pertinent to remind Mr governor that it is not Uhuru yet as the table may swiftly turn if the same GAC that endorsed him fails to get the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, and also be reminded that his second term endorsement is only a trust as the real owner(s) may call for it whenever; this he may want to confirm from Ambode, who they all greeted with ‘leekan si’, only to backdown to declare him “as not a good party man”, no matter how good party man you are, be reminded of this Yoruba proverb “êgbá taa fi na Iya lè” …
Lagosians are aware that your endorsement is not by merit rather a bait, one that the big shark might come for.
-Nonye Nwa Umuahia.
