When Lee Kuar Yew, the Legendary leader of Singapore was taking giant strides to move the country from third world to first world or from a developing country to a developed country, a lot of people criticized him for causing some degree of inconvenience to the citizenry. However years down the line when beautiful cities with parks replaced slums and efficient transport, tourism, industrial, legal, educational systems emerged, everybody started singing his praises.
Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos state somehow reminds one of that great leader of Singapore, just like other foresighted leaders who live years ahead of their followers. Recall that when Lateef Jakande was building low cost housing estates and schools around Lagos when he was the governor, he was roundly criticized by political opponents for building what the termed substandard houses. However years down the line when politics was separated from reality, he was aptly dubbed an “Action Governor”. Today thousands of families are living comfortably in the Jakande estates and have their children schooling in schools built by Jakande.
Fashola has been criticized too for some of his policies which has bought difficulties to some Lagosians. These include the restriction on commercial motorcycles and the demolition of some houses to give way to developmental projects. However we must understand that the restriction on commercial motorcyclists has dramatically reduced the number of accidents and amputees at our various orthopedic hospitals and several incidents of robbery. Also note that except some of these houses are removed, new railway lines and roads for the benefit of millions of Lagosians would not be constructed.
Let me recount some of Fashola’s achievements starting from Surulere, where I frequent. He has improved the fortune of everybody living, doing business, schooling or visiting there. He dualized, expanded, modernized and upgraded with street lights, traffic signs and drainages such major roads like Ogunlana drive,Akerele street, Adebola street, Ogunsanya street, Bode Thomas street and Eric Moore road to mention but a few.
A little research will show that so much has seen done. In other parts of Lagos one can mention a few out of thousands of projects which space cannot allow one to enumerate here. In the area of agriculture he completed 100 units, two bedroom apartments at the Agriculture Settlements and received a letter of allocation in respect of 500 hectares of land situated in Eggua in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State to be used for its agriculture program. This is in addition to the massive rice program at Ikorodu.
In the health sector, he commissioned and handed over the Maternal and Child Health Complex at Alimosho General Hospital, Igando. Also commissioned were the Maternal and Child Health Complex Amuwo Odofin and another in Ikorodu. Further, the 3 floor Cardiac and Renal Centre, Gbagada General Hospital was commissioned. Add this to the Eko free Health Mission which took place in Ajara,Badagry last year where a total of 25,821 patients were seen and 25,542 were treated by doctors.
He completed Ejigbo-Ajao, now January 27 link Bridge (Oshodi – Isolo LG) Celeto Ijesha Link brigde, the Ikoyi – Lekki Link bridge etc. In the energy sector, the Marina Independent Power Project was built. He handed over 140 transformers to members of the State House of Assembly to be distributed in their various constituencies as well as ministries and parastatals to boost their job performance. In the field of education, the government in the last year registered fifty thousand candidates from public senior secondary schools for West African School Certificate just like it has always done over the years. It ensured payment of pensions to 5,732 pensioners promptly while regular visits to the homes of the retires were carried out to check the state of their health. The government also constructed 8 Number Blocks of 108 classrooms in 8 secondary schools which include Ilogbo Elegba Junior High School, Ojo; Egan Junior High School,Alimosho and Iba Housing Senior High School Iba – Ojo among others.
The light blue train railway project, including the intensification of the rehabilitation and expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway Lot 2A; with the rail track laying is already at an advanced stage. In the area of housing, under the novel LAGOS HOMS Project the following projects have been completed; 429 Housing Units of 41 blocks in Igando, 180 units in Omole Scheme 1 and 11 andMagodo, 36 housing units in Ilupeju Scheme, 1,540 housing units in Sangotedoand 367 units in Shita, Surulere. There are also the 144 housing units in ShogunroOgba Scheme, etc.
We can go on and on. However the key issue now is the fate of Lagosians as 2015 governorship elections beckon in Lagos state. According to Fashola himself during the celebration of his 2100 days in office on 26th February 2013, “We are already looking beyond 2015. We are planning to see how Lagos can comfortably become home to 40 million people, and support it efficiently. And that is why we have not just three to four years plan. We have 15 – 20 – 25 years for land use and infrastructure in key towns in Lagos today”. With the peace and security enjoyed by Lagos state, it has become investor’s favorite destination. This was not achieved by chance. It is the result of efforts of the Fashola team over the years.
Indeed it is on record that in the last twelve years other states have been coming to Lagos to borrow ideas and even in some cases personnel to set up models of Lagos institutions in their respective states. Against this background, Lagosians must be very careful to elect someone who is likely to continue to build on the success story of Fashola from 2015 going forward. If we choose the wrong candidate we shall pay dearly for it. As Theodore Roosevelt, the former American President said, “We are the government, you and I”.
