This week’s Saturday, Nigerians will file out once again to elect governors of the 36 states of the Federation with the exception of few states where their election will come at a later day.
The hit is on and the atmosphere turbo charged. It is so charged that you can cut it with the knife. But never has Lagos State feels so tense and electrified like this in the history of the state. Election in the state has always been predictable as it could only go one way. And that’s the way of the progressives. But the presidential election shocker of last week changed it all. It changed the permutations. Not even the so-called politic prophets can say with absolute authority where the pendulum will swing this Saturday.
The task is simple. It is tagged the Sanwo-Olu project. And it is a task that must be done since the majority believes that one good turn deserves another. To all and sundry, Sanwo-Olu has done well in his first tenure and could have done far more better but for the corona virus pandemic that dragged back the hand of the clock in Lagos State couple with some other calculated uproar like the #End SARS riot that left Lagos in ruins and unprecedented carnage. Kudos to the shrewd leader who stood as the Incident Commander and was able to nip the crises in the bud.
Lagos, as the centre of excellence isunarguably the economic capital of West Africa. It’s strategically located in the part of western region and dominated by the Yoruba people.
I have no doubt in my mind that Lagosians have a covenant with Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Hamzat. They have the covenant to reelect their governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, a prolific and enterprising governor who has been given different names like Mr infrastructure, Mr Smart City, Mr talk-and-do and others too numerous to mention.
Lagos State, as you all know, is the economic capital of Nigeria and West Africa. Lagos, no doubt, has made tremendous progress since 1999 when the president elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, became the governor.
Ever since then, with peaceful succession plans and 25 years master plan, Lagos has continued to be in the hand of progressive leaders. Between 1999 till date, the mantle of leadership of Lagos has continued to be in the hands of the progressive team and this accounts for the massive progress we have witnessed in all spheres of human endeavors.
In the years ahead, Lagos is set to witness astronomical growth because the special status that has been on the front burner by the president elect will be achievable and this is likely to attract more resources into the state..
In all of this, Lagos is pursuing her smart city status without shaking and the need to put a round peg in a round hole becomes inevitable. Babajide Sanwo Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat have been tested and Lagos has been working with them. These two gentlemen are perfect match so the dreams of anyone to think of changing them will not be an option. No reasonable human beings change a winning team.
On March 11, 2023, the civil servants, political appointees, market men and women, students of public institutions that have attained the minimum age and have their PVC, the public servants, the private sector, members of NRTW, different community organizations, members of the ruling party (APC), traditional institution and community members and the general public should troop out to vote for Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his second term.
We can’t afford to put Lagos State in the opposition party again as the champion of opposition party in modern Nigeria is now the president elect.. With President Tinubu in Abuja and Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the saddle back home in Lagos, it’s Eldorado for Lagos. The state must continue to experience quantum growth in all perspectives, be it economic and physical infrastructure..
As a matter of fact, Lagos today has become one of the biggest infrastructural destinations in the world. The blue line project, the red line project, farm supermarkets in Epe and so many other projects bore testimony to Sanwo-Olu’s dynamism and leadership acumen.
Sanwo-Olu and Dr Hamzat are the winning team. They are the leaders of men. And on their shoulders lies the greatness of the state. Let those having nightmare about how to stage a civilian coup in Lagos continue to live in their dream but our mission and task is to secure a glorious second term for Sanwo-Olu and his deputy at all costs. Pure and simple!
.Otunba Sola Olatunji, Chairman of Ikale Heritage Development Association, writes from Lagos