Lagos@50: Why legislature should not be ignored

The final lap of the celebration of Lagos as a state that has existed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria for five decades is slated for May 27.

In the run-up to that date, various events have been lined up to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Lagos and tell the story of Lagos from 1967 when it was created to date.

One of the strong points to drive awareness among Lagos residents and visitors to the Centre of Excellence  is the pictorial illustration of Lagos success story which dots medians and walkways along major roads in the state.

However, keen watchers have observed that the only item on the menu for the Golden Jubilee that involves the legislature is a special plenary slated for May 22.

The Executive, including the first Military Governor, Mobolaji Johnson; first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Fourth Republic governors, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and the incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode, were adequately captured.

The judiciary was in fact celebrated at the doorstep of the legislature with an illustrious son of Lagos, who performed creditably at the Supreme Court epitomising the state as a land of “rule of law.”

This piece is meant to bring to the fore, the wondrous names from the first arm of government that made marks by contributing to success and development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

In the National Assembly, two political gladiators that have written their names boldly in the annals of Lagos deserve mention.

Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora will not be forgotten as the speaker of the Lagos Assembly from 1999 to 2003 when he proceeded to the Red Chamber and debated for two terms, earning for himself “Master of Parliamentary Procedures,” among other honours.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu was not just an intelligent, delectable and philanthropic former governor’s wife in Lagos State, she is one of the few two-term female senators who contributed their quota to societal uplift through, among others,  a biil proposing a special status for Lagos State.

One man whose contributions to humanity remain indelible and who has the record of being the longest serving speaker of a state Assembly in Nigeria is Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Ikuforiji deserves accolades for effectively managing the legislative arm of government above common standards of excellence, enacting good laws for meaningful development of Lagos from the latter part of the era of former Governor Tinubu and the tenure of former Governor Fashola.

Questions have also been raised on the exclusion of the current leadership of the eighth Lagos Assembly headed by Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, the speaker, from the iconic faces who have associated their success stories with Lagos State.

After an unprecedented number of people-oriented private member bills initiated by Obasa himself, he is still not being celebrated during the Lagos at 50 programme.

This is the extent of disdain in which the legislature is held.

The inertia in public circles, nay the Executive, is so pervasive as to disregard the  impetus that the legislative arm provides for governance.

Akinboye Akintola

Lagos