The bid to stop Ambode’s re-election

THERE can be no disputing the fact that Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will contest and win by a large margin, the 2019 governorship election in Lagos State. The jostling for Ambode’s disqualification is mere imagination or wishful thinking of jokers who feel intimidated by his strides. These are cowards who are either not alive to Ambode’s political strategy of working through the grassroots people i.e. the masses whom he has made stakeholders in governance or those who feign ignorance of his performances these past 33 months.  On Wednesday, 17th January, a journalist reported wrangling between the APC and PDP in Lagos State, leading to the presumption that Ambode would be disqualified from contesting the 2019 election. This is because someone had claimed to have led a group in a 3 million-man march for Ambode’s re-election in 2019 which is against the rule of the game or which INEC and the police should frown at and disqualify him, otherwise it would be deemed that the election was rigged abinition to favour Ambode .

Nigeria is such a nation in which anyone could fabricate falsehoods and publish them as truth. The PDP mouthpiece said “Let it be known that we predict Ambode will not contest in 2019 because as soon as we start our own game, even the APC leader would think twice before endorsing him”. PDP monumentally discounted Ambode’s achievements. The spokesperson descnbed Ambode’s road construction projects as cosmetic. A chartered Accountant cum administrator, who is ·never distracted from what he is doing, Ambode is a man who had a clear vision to make Lagos State the envy of other states. The opposition party did not believe Ambode ever had the capabilities to govern Lagos well because he was never a politician. They based their thoughts on the fact that he would have to shuttle his seat of authority to seek guidance from his godfather. They did not realise that his 27years sojourn in the Lagos State civil service where he worked around several local government areas had groomed him to know the needs and pains of the people of Lagos State.

They did not figure that the divine hand of God was on his Side because when he passed his lCAN exam at age 24, he had meant to work in one of the newly created Banks but none offered him a place and had to enroll in the civil service of Lagos State. As soon as he was sworn into office in 2015, he swore to make Lagos work for everybody and that he would adopt inclusive governance approach to govern Lagos because as he reasoned the population of Lagos is complex with each group having its needs and yearnings.

Also he was smart to know that people who are in the lower rung of social ladder are in the majority whose mandates confer political authority to govern any State. Unlike before his innovative governance style, decisions as to what to give. the people were top-botiom.

Ambode’s inclusive approach is called participatory governance in developed nations. Lagos having been former capital of Nigeria has diverse nationalities who must be catered for but in Top-Bottom approach those whose mandates are’ given in trust hardly enjoy benefits of democracy which Ambode pledged to give back to them.  For this, he designed to hold townhall meetings with the people at which each person is allowed to speak out his mind, especially at question and answers sessions and the governor who is on top of every department under his watch responds solving problems and challenges on the spot. By this approach projects are Demand-Driven.  Since this interaction is regular and. held from zone to zone, no one can feel left out. This is why the poor masses will prove those clamouring for his disqualification are bound to fail. The said 3-million man march which opposition is claiming to be a breach of our electoral law was a march to hail the governor who has been relentless in developing Lagos State and which both Arewa and Igbo youths have claimed is a detriballsed people’s governor.

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Not too long ago when Mr. President came visiting, Ambode used the opportunity to commission 21 border roads to link residents with Ogun State. This is aside 114 Roads he constructed in the 20LGs and 37CDAs in 2017 and which were commissioned by CDA members. He has approved and mobilised contractors for the construction of additional 181 inner city roads to ease transport movement within the State.

Because Ambode does not allow himself to be distracted, whilst the PDP was challenging his victory in the court, he was studying grid locks inside Lagos. Ambode came up with blue print to ease transportation in the state one of which was the construction of 114 inter city roads, flyovers bridges, pedestrian bridges and lay-bys. Because most of these roads were selected by CDA members whom he has elevated to stakeholders in governance and whom he interacts with periodically, the communities have fallen in love with Ambode who they see as a grassroots politician. For instance the Brown Street he gave Oshodi-Isolo local government stands to be one of the best roads ever constructed in Lagos Ambode’s projects are never left to aides to inspect as he personally carries out site inspection himself another reason the masses who see him ever so often love him because they see a hard working man who does not like to disappoint his people because he shows much commitment and passion for serving Lagosians.

From his over Nt trillion 2018 budget which is the size of some 10 states put together he is confirming to Lagosians he would leave no stones unturned. Hi~ commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Akeem Abdul-Lateef assured Lagosians Ambode would soon complete the Oshodi world class transport interchange which comprises of pedestrian bridges,. shopping malls, CCRV all of which will push Oshodi to becoming a world class Business District. He hopes to complete Aqeqe. Pen Cinema, flyover within 9months while he intends to construct 4 stadia in Igbogbo, Epe, 8adagry and Ajegunle to assure spots enthusiasts that they are not left out. So far there does not exist any law anywhere in the world that prohibits commendation to a busy governor who is telling his own story by his performances all over his state for his people and other residents in Lagos who enjoy what he’ is providing for them.  Except for those who work with Ambode you cannot keep tap of all projects Ambode is executing. Ambode once said he would like to be judged long after he has left office which is an indication that his administration should be assessed by the end results of his brilliant policy formulation, rigorous execution of projects all of which are aimed at unbeatable service delivery which leave enduring impact in the lives of residents of Lagos.

• Orija lives in Lagos.