It is no longer news that the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is now the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
But one man that is not impressed by his emergence is another aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Kunle Uthman.
Kunle Uthman, a legal practitioner is of the view that Governor Sanwo-Olu has not handled Lagos well to deserve a second chance.
He pointed areas which in his opinion has not improved the lives of residents of Lagos.
In a statement personally signed by him, he said his party, the SDP will provide a better opportunity for Lagos and the residents.
Below is the Statement
Renomination Of His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu As APC Party Flagbearer For The 2023 Gubernatorial Election In Lagos State.
THE GOOD NEWS:
One of the most gratifying news that dominated the print and electronic media yesterday, the 26th day of May, 2022 was the nomination by the APC ruling party in Lagos State that the incumbent Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu would be its flag-bearer at the forthcoming Gubernatorial Elections in 2023.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:
The reason for this trepidation, jubilation, celebration and backslapping was genuinely premised on the notorious fact, by verifiable evidences, that in the first term of the tenure (ongoing) of His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor, he has performed below average and unsuitable anymore for that Office, which demand high performance and capacity to deliver the dividends of democratic governance.
Without wanting to be sarcastic, condemnatory, judgemental, critique or to lampoon, legion of facts and several verifiable proofs exist everywhere in the State to show poor performances, including but not limited to the following:
1. THE LAGOS BUSINESS DISTRICT:
The Lagos Business District is an eyesore – dirty, garbage and rodents infested and toxic environment, which is unsupervised. Trading obstructing free flow of vehicular traffic takes place everywhere. Indeed, there is no security of lives and properties and there exists traffic gridlock making both human and vehicular movements very difficult.
The axis of Dosunmu/Ijankara roads and market have been completely neglected and abandoned. Ijankara market was long demolished but the Lagos State Government has left it as a slum and evidence of bad and poor governance.
This is not the Lagos of our dreams at birth or that can serve as an economic hub of prosperity and commerce to itself and the nation at large.
Our dear Lagos has assumed by global indexes and categorization as ONE OF THE DIRTIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD.
2. DECEPTION AND INCAPACITY TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS:
Highbrow Lekki Ikoyi axis (save Bourdillon) has suddenly become unliveable as a result of massive alterations of the Masterplan. Traffic gridlock obound everywhere poor security and unavailability of basic infrastructure has become the defining decimal.
It is indeed laughable to see the LASG (Lagos State Government) and its alter ego LCC (Lekki Concession Company) staff in Toll Collection Cages interrupting free flow of traffic and “pretending” to collect toll, but doing nothing.
How come labour in Lagos State is so cheap and the State Government is glorifying a charade and rubber stamping this ridiculous pricing of labour and show-of-shame? This embarrassing situation is nothing but the depth to which the government has sunk and serves nothing but to ridicule enterprise and education.
3. LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISREGARD FOR CITIZENS:
The refusal of the Governor of Lagos State to make available to the citizens the Lekki Concession Company Tolling Agreement, payments so far, balance due and payable on the loan gives an insight into their perception and convoluted definition of Democracy as a personal enterprise and poor understanding of the real purpose of government as a social contract of which there must be accountability to those that voted them into power, which when abused can be taken back through the franchise.
The Lagos State Hon. Commissioner of Information and Strategy had promised at various times and places that this demand for the Tolling Agreement will be met and the documents demanded will be released for public scrutiny and verification.
This promise has become nothing but a fanthom “tale” and we-don’t-care what the citizens say attitude of a highly placed government official, who derives his income, allowances and emoluments from taxes paid by taxpayers in the State.
Hopefully, His Excellency, our dear Governor will provide these information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and as evidence of transparency of his administration.
4. BADAGRY AS A TOURISM HAVEN AND HISTORIC CITY:
The abandonment of the city of Badagry, which ought to be a global tourist haven is indeed embarrassing and another evidence of incapabilities at innovative governance.
A diligent team of bureaucrats and technocrats will easily design a Masterplan that will commerce transforgenerate of Badagry into a global destination of tourists. Badagry will also earn scarce foreign exchange for Lagos State and boost the tourism potentials of the State.
In Badagry is domiciled by providence the history of the Slave Trade and commerce, germane to the history of the black race. There is the urgency to liverage on this and engage in massive and well coordinated developments and transformation. This necessarily will include building of hotels, libraries, tour visitations to historic monuments, providing waterways transportation and visiting locations of the slave trade before commencing the “Journey Of No Return.”
5. CULTURE, TRADITIONS AND HISTORY:
The Lagos Island, specifically Isale-Eko and its environs that domiciled the cherished history of culture and traditions of Lagos is a junket of trading and convoluted commerce at the lowest level in the value chain. History is gradually being eroded and total neglect is the hallmark definition of the present executive in Lagos State.
6. THE MONO-RAIL PROJECT:
The Mono-Rail project is still a mirage of three different Governments in Lagos State. This project is a glaring statement and testimony of failure of government and its incapacity and incapability of the present Lagos State Government to deal with the transportation problems of lagos State, which is critical to its fulfilment of transformation to a Megacity.
7. WATER TRANSPORTATION:
The water transportation to link Lagos Island, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and thereby ease traffic chaos and gridlock is a mirage under the present government in the State.
The Lagos Waterways Authority had surreptitiously become another ineffective fanthom agency constituted by bureaucrats who are incapable of transforming the waterways, as alternative to road transportation in Lagos State.
8. FEAR OF LASTMA:
The Governor had, so far been incapable of curbing the day-by-day menace and excesses of LASTMA officials on the roads, making them perform their statutory duties of traffic management and not the menace they have become on Lagos roads. Now, the fear of LASTMA is the beginning of wisdom to avoid humiliation and extortion on Lagos State Roads.
9. INSECURITY OF LIVE AND PROPERTIES:
So far, no solution whatsoever has been found to curb insecurity of lives and properties in the entire gamut of this State.
9. COLLAPSING BUILDINGS EVERYWHERE:
Incidences of collapsing buildings has become in the recent past the global benchmark for Lagos State, thereby scaring foreign investments and resulting in capital flight.
The POLICY REFORM ON PLANNING REGULATIONS AND BUILDING CONTROL IN LAGOS STATE was submitted in September 2008.
Incidentally, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent Governor of Lagos State was the Ist Vice-Chairman of the Committee. That Committee wrote the Report above referenced 14 years ago.
The Terms of Reference of this Committee included among others:
10:a. To modernise extant regulations towards the transformation of Lagos into Africa’s model Mega-City; b. Halt the increasing frequency of building collapse in Lagos; c. Establish a building control system to minimise the incidence of various building defects arising from bad design, inferior materials and construction leading to fire and health hazards;….
The incumbent Governor of Lagos State, as Vice-Chairman knew the determination of this Committee constituted by highly gifted professionals in the built industry and legal practitioners.
Apparently, relevant laws are in the statute books in Lagos State to curb the incidences of collapsing buildings, but the bureaucracy of the Sanwo-Olu administration (with respect) lack the capacity to enforce these laws, hence the problem has remained unstoppable.
The most notorious and embarrassing proof of lack of willpower and bureaucratic incompetence of building collapse was the 21 Storey Collapsed Building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi last year. This incident was a sad testamentary confirmation that the present government in Lagos State has no clue whatsoever on the way and manner to deal decisively with this problem.
Indeed, the Governor who incidentally was the Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee ought to know the imperative obligation to enforce the law and sanction erring officials of the various agencies in Lagos State who are in charge of enforcement of extant building regulations and to ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations. It can no longer be business as usual. A Stitch In Time Saves Nine.
WAY FORWARD;
The way forward to ensure an efficient and effective government in Lagos State is a change of baton and replacement of the incumbent Governor and his government with a team of competent professionals, technocrats and administrators, locally and from abroad, who possess the zeal and wherewithal, are competent and capable to drive the change and are cerebrally endowed to deliver, by hitting the ground running, the dividends of democracy and democratic governance.
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AND SERVICES:
10. There is utmost urgency in improving primary healthcare in Lagos State and to provide affordable drugs and medicines in our hospitals and primary heathcare facilities.
11. PRIMARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION:
As a matter of urgency, the primary and secondary schools in the State deserve urgent amelioratory attention to transform them into good and affordable institutions.
12. TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK EVERYWHERE:
The time and hours spent on the roads navigating traffic in Apapa, going to Badagry, in Ikorodu, Ikeja, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki and all around the geographical space Lagos State are testamentary proof of poor performances and failure of government.
Therefore, for a Better Rewarding Future for Lagos State, as haven of commerce, prosperity and self actualisation irrespective of tribe, gender and faith is an obligation concomitant with good, long and prosperous life. The time to vote out, replace and vote in a new government in Lagos State is now.
The political party that will deliver the MAXIMUM DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY IN LAGOS STATE, through and practical Manifesto of Change and a social contract of accountability is the SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP). This party has integrity, constituted by good people, cerebral and determined to change the narrative.
For A Better Life and Living In Lagos State and actualization of the Megacity plan,
Vote the SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SDP.
As Governor of Lagos State, Vote CHIEF KUNLE UTHMAN, tested, trusted, competent, good Man-of-the-people.
USE THE APC BROOM TO SWEEP THE DIRTY FLOOR FOR THE SPARKING WHITE HORSE OF THE SDP TO PASS and usher in a new government of HOPE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE..
Be assured of the fact that we will deliver to Lagos State the dividends of democracy and ensure participation of the youth population, women and our citizens forced by circumstances to locate to other countries and live abroad will return to synergise and work with us in a participatory and an all inclusive government.
Yours-In-Service,
Chief Kunle Uthman
SDP Gubernatorial Aspirant for Lagos State.
27/5/22.
