BY Wale Fatade
One of the most popular catch phrases in our political lexicon these days is ‘hit the ground running’. While on the one hand, this is a reflection of a microwave generation who are used to instant things; it’s also an expression of an earnest desire of a people traumatized by the ineptitude of past leaders. That’s why it must be gratifying to those of us residing in Lagos State the way our governor; Akinwunmi Ambode has hit the ground running.
As a Lagos resident since 1993, with a few years sojourn outside the state, I can safely tell from experience which governor has done well for the state. But this is not an exercise in comparative analysis of past Lagos State governors, but a prodding on those areas our new governor must look into so that the state can be truly a centre of excellence. Fine, Ambode is making the right noise as seen in popping up at accident scenes, making appointments of those who will serve with him, and also scrutinizing appointments into parastatal boards and what have you. He has also made some populist pronouncements like promising a pedestrian bridge and stoppage of planned toll on Lekki-Epe expressway, which, by the way, was a signpost of corruption under former governor Raji Fashola’s government. But that’s a story for another day. All these are good, however, they should not be the major things we should remember this government for, and he should, and could do more.
Shunning siren while on the road is also a sign of a sensible governor as this shows that little things perhaps bother him, which is a crucial tool in leading Lagos. Political scientists have told us about how leaders have personalized the instruments and structures of office that at some levels, the state becomes indistinguishable from the folks occupying political offices. It is a symbolic action which one can only hope he will keep as he stays longer in office. Similarly, his instruction that birthday adverts and congratulatory messages for his last birthday should be channeled to a charity working on cancer offers a template of what a good leader can do in reducing waste. No need of asking how many of such adverts will be placed if the person was not in office as there would be none.
But there are other germane issues for Ambode to look into. I strongly implore him not to fall into the mistake of his predecessor in office by concentrating more projects in the island than the mainland. He should also resist every attempt to make him a governor for the elites alone and thereby relegate a large population of the state to the background. From afar, he seems a simple-minded person devoid of grandiloquence and condescension, which were in abundance with some past Lagos State governors. He should continue along this line of simplicity and accessibility. As a politician, he cannot but play politics but this should not take the first place in his scheme of work. With a predecessor from the same political party, that rules out any probe into the affairs of the former governor, the noise from Lagos State PDP chapter notwithstanding. It would be good still if he could jettison bad policies of the last government without fanfare or drama.
At a briefing with journalists last week at Lagos House, Ikeja, he spoke specifically about the housing project initiated by the Fashola government. For those who remember, the former governor said categorically that the houses being built by his government were not meant for the poor in response to questions by some citizens on the cost of those houses. Ambode at the briefing said his government was considering adopting a rent-to-own policy as a follow-up to the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, which was about owning homes through mortgage after 30 percent initial payment. Call it a populist action, but this is a welcome development as it shows a listening governor. A government should not be afraid of reversing unpopular actions especially when they do not have the desired effect.
A major task of the Ambode government is entrenching the rule of law more than what we have presently. In our brand of peculiar politics, some laws are suspended toward elections and they become difficult to enforce after elections. I’m speaking especially of transportation laws in the state, as it’s now a common sight for drivers to face oncoming traffic without recourse to traffic rules. Tricycle operators and motorcycle riders have grown wings that they have become untouchable and this must be curbed as the more such is allowed the difficult it gets to make citizens obey laws in other areas. In these days of dwindling resources, prudent financial management is sine qua non for any elected official. As a professional accountant, Ambode is well equipped along this line and he would do well to remain true to his professional calling.