By Chidi Iketuonye
A lot has been written concerning the unprecedented easing of the incumbent Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode from the throne or precisely “under- throne”, that one is in danger of perpetuating clichés in further exercising the matter. But there is a derived expression coined by a writer in Vanguard, which remains ever fresh. According to Olu Fasan, when it comes to Lagos politics, “Tinubu gives and Tinubu takes”. This is of course a variant of the Lord gives and the Lord takes, a analogy that underlines the larger than life political colossus, a.k.a Jagaban, bestriding and to some, asphyxiating Lagos political life.
And so we all know that just as the Jagaban gave Ambode in 2015, he opted to take back from him and give us plebeians of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Known also as B.O.S, Sanwo-Olu emerged from the shadows to achieve the unprecedented feat of dethroning an incumbent from the the ruling Party’s nomination with the blessing of the Jagaban as his talisman.
To be fair however, Sanwo-olu has been playing significant roles in past administrations right from the time of Tinubu, through Fashola, up to the eclipsing Ambode tenure. So he is not actually the closet junkie that some uncharitable folks have been insinuating that he is. On the contrary he is quite cerebral, though some would argue that astuteness and substance abuse are not mutually exclusive. Sanwo-Olu is also known as a team player, and a developmental guru, whatever that means in precise economic terms.
Enter the quiet tiger, Jimi Agbaje, a.ka.JK, to whom Sanwo-Olu referred to as Egbon. A perfect foil for Tinubu in the unfolding drama, he broke out of the then Action Congress when it became obvious that there was not room enough for another star, except that anointed by Tinubu, later coronated as the Jagaban. According to JK, he left Tinubu’s camp on grounds of principle which made it unacceptable to him to stomach the prospect of a “one man’s Lagos state”, that went to sleep when the man went to sleep. Jk also comes with a certain mass appeal which has percolated especially as this is his third time of contesting for the governorship. Perhaps fortune will be much kinder to him this time, considering that he lost by a margin of just a hundred thousand votes in 2015.
Jimi Agbaje besides an impressive pedigree is a seasoned professional with formidable ratings. He has a passion for education and has been asking the right questions about the deployment of the massive revenue generated by Lagos state for the past twenty years. He is a veteran activist having cut his teeth in activism from the days of the annulled June 12 MKO Abiola’s electoral victory. In all JK portends a break from the dominance of entrenched interests in Lagos politics and governance for the past two decades.
But the burning question is how cosmopolitan is the Lagos electorate? Or are we sophisticated morons as some irreverent commentators have alleged. Better still how progressive are the so called progressive politicians that have presided over Lagos state affairs since 1999? According to Olu Fasan’s piece, “progressivism seeks to liberate the human mind and improve the human condition. But the so called progressives in Nigeria today enjoy entrenched privilege; they behave like feudalists or aristocrats and keep people down as plebs and serfs. What’s more, they feed on state resources, accumulate stupendous wealth and acquire political power and control. Their progressivism is not about liberating minds and enhancing people’s progress but about enriching themselves and their cronies. It is the progress for the few, not the many.”
Ironically however, these entrenched party men draw on our misplaced sense of loyalty to ethnic or local affiliations. Thus a certain embattled governor down east after having secured his second term survival by promoting a regional party concept quickly dumps all such considerations to gravitate to the central government in a bid to eliminate local competition and ensure he remains the supreme godfather. The pattern is always the same. They appeal to our parochial and primordial sentiments in other to secure mass support and enable them corner the common wealth for themselves and proxies.
The challenge on Lagos and Lagosians is to see through the veil; to insist on inclusive governance where the dividends of electoral democracy spread to all citizens. Where the welfare of the masses is the paramount concern and leaders are truly committed to that welfare. Where the ugly spectacle of iniquitous opulence existing side by side with heart breaking squalor is confronted and equitably resolved. Lagos finest face would be the face to champion this course.