Who does the cap fit?
Come year 2023, the crown fit no one but the king maker
The problem of Nigeria is nothing but Religious,
Tribal and Systemic, how? I sincerely have no doubt in my heart that the worst
Governor in Nigeria may rule as the best President in the United State of
America due to political systemic built on trust, commitment and sincerity of
purpose with leverages on the quality a leader possesses devoid of sentiments,
skin or Religion. Hence Barrack Obama ruled as the President of the Country.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is the only country where
the people desire good governance and go to Churches, Mosques and other
religious houses to pray for such a leader but when the opportunity stir at
them for a democratic political power to cast their votes, they switch to
sentiment and their desire changes for a leader from their very tribes not
minding the implication at that very point. The most surprising thing about us
(Nigerians) is that when it comes to football matches and other sports we always
sincerely seek to have the right people to play irrespective of the tribe no
body ask after (Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani or Hausa), religion or colour, we all just
want to see the Team being victorious but not in governance.
It is pertinent to state that Nigeria is faced
with multiple challenges that require an experienced person with an uncommon
success story in governance. A man who can fix the right people as lieutenants
devoid of tribal sentiment, a man who can look at challenges in the face and
tackle it straight, we want a man who can think outside the box, not a
copy-paste leader, we want a leader who can turn the economy of Nigeria to an
enviable position, we want a leader who can make Nigeria a country that most
people will desire to visit, We want a leader who can tackle insurgency and
make Nigeria peaceful again. We want a leader who will feel the pains of the
common people devoid of any region or section, a leader who will be for all and
not for a section, a leader who can lead us to the promised land, a leader who
already has a blueprint solution to the present challenges, not a leader who
will depend on foreign advice alone, We want a leader who cannot be intimidated
nor manipulated by other developed Countries.
May I present to you the Jagaban of borgu
kingdom, Asiwaju of Nigeria the emeritus Bola Ahmed Tinubu a man who inherited
a Lagos State that was on its knees, even though it has the potential of a
great State. Lagos roads were an eyesore; its IGR stood at just N600, 000.000.00
monthly while the State was largely dependent on Federal allocation for
survival. A State with the highest number of labour after the Federal, a
right-thinking person does not need a soothsayer to tell him/her that such a State
will collapse if its federal allocation is not released in a few months. Wow,
it may interest you to know that the State allocation was seized all the period
he was the State Governor.
The man with the Cap quickly put up his thinking
Cap and initiated a master plan that gradually increased the State IGR from next
to nothing to over N50bn monthly. Permit me to emphatically state that despite
the regular collections of Federal allocation by other Governors, many of them
could not pay Public Servants’ salaries for years until they got a bailout from
the Federal Government. This is one of the many reasons for a man with the
blueprint to be considered.
In the face of seizure of the State funds, he embarked
on mass recruitment of Senior Staff into the State Civil Service. May I have
the readers indulgence to categorically enumerate a few of this man`s uncommon
achievements during the trying period:
I. He
awarded contracts for 422 road projects, and 308 were completed during his
tenure.
II. He
repositioned the health sector through heavy financial and human capital
investment. More General Hospitals were established. The existing ones were
rehabilitated. Also, the administration built more health centers at the
grassroots. Modern medical equipment was procured for the health hospitals and
health centers. New medical laboratories were also set up.
III. The
administration introduced a free health policy for Children below 18 and adults
above 65 years. The drugs for patients were heavily subsidized. Under the
Blindness Prevention Programme, millions of Lagosians were saved from sight
problems. The administration’s “Roll Back Malaria” program complemented the Eko
Free Malaria Treatment program under which millions of people were treated. To
attend to medical emergencies the LASAMBUS scheme was initiated. Dozens of
ambulances were provided to ease rescue operations.
IV. He
inherited a city where Refuse disposal was a major headache. The fear of
epidemic engulfed the State but in no time the refuse disappeared
V. The
administration’s youth development program led to the annual “One Day Governor”
event. The academic competition was anchored by the New Era Foundation.
VI. He
converted the dreadful Ita Oko prisoner’s camp into a youth skills acquisition
center. There was also a program of women empowerment to enable women cope with
the harsh economic realities and make them become self-employed.
VII. In
the housing sector, he facilitated access to quality accommodation and
succeeded in making the Lekki corridor the fastest-growing estate.
VIII. There
was a turnaround in the fortunes of the LSDPC. Its account was red before
Tinubu assumed office.
IX. There
were also novel initiatives in transportation, including the development of
modern water transportation, BRT and LASTMA.
X. Under
the visionary administration, Lagos blazed the trail in the Independent Power
Project (IPP), which continually supplied 270 megawatts of electricity to the
national grid.
XI. He
created additional 37 Councils, following the legitimate agitations of
Lagosians for improved governance at the grassroots. The number of the Councils
rose to 57. However, the National Assembly refused to list the Councils in the
Constitution.
His successor, Fashola, built on his
achievements.
In view of the serious predicament that was
intentionally created by the Federal Government to cripple Lagos State, he has
outstanding records of performance and receives various awards:
They
include the ‘Best Governor of for 2001 by the Nigerian/Belgian Chamber of
Commerce, Winner of 2002 Best Practices Prize in improving the living
environment (by the Federal Ministry of Works and UN habitat Group), 2000 Best
computerized Government in Nigeria (by the Computer Association of Nigeria),
2003 Green Crystal Award for Enhancing the Value of the Environment (by
Clean-Up Nigeria (CUN), 2002 Healthcare Award as the best provider of best
health services in Nigeria, Presidential Merit Award for Technological
Development by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, 2001 National Literacy award
for outstanding contribution to mass literacy, Co-winner of 2002 Outstanding
Alumnus award of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), 2001
Distinguished Alumnus Award by Chicago State University, Distinguished Service
Award for Exemplary Leadership by the Lagos State Economic Summit Group,
Certificate of Commendation by the national Conference of Black mayors, Silver
Jubilee Anniversary Award as Labour Friendly Governor by the National Union of
Petroleum and Natural gas Workers (NUPENG) and Award of Recognition by Nigerian
Berge Limited for the initiation of the Independent Power project (IPP).
WHY
DO SOME UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE HATE HIM?
Unfortunately, no matter how good or sound a man
could be, there will always be haters. When you are envious of someone
unconsciously it turned to madness or irritating hatred, one of their many
questions is the source of his wealth and they always ask to show us the source
of his wealth. I always wondered why any reasonable person will ask from an
intelligent man over 65 years old who had worked with a renowned international
Audit and Accounting firm? a man who created a master plan that made Lagos an
economic hub of Africa envy of Nigeria? the man is one of the most exposed
people in the world, people in their small enclosed and myopic mindset just
hate him for nothing, even if the man brings out proof because of envy they
will never be satisfied. With all the insults and labels, he never answer any
of them, he became more focused.
This is a man who had done more than enough for
other ethnic groups across the major regions of Nigeria:
I. Ben
Akabueze an Igbo man was made a Commissioner to serve in the most vibrant
Ministry – Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget for more than 10 years no
single Yoruba has ever enjoyed that in the history of Lagos State.
II. Joe
Igbokwe is a serving cabinet Commissioner in Lagos State
III. An
Igbo student was made a day Governor in Lagos State
IV. Several
people from other ethnic groups are Directors in the Civil Service of Lagos
more than any other States
V. Sam
Egube Ugheli, Delta State is the present Commissioner for Ministry of Economic
Planning and Budget.
VI. Kabiru
Ahmed Abdullahi (From the North) is a serving Commissioner in the State
vii. and
many more. He has proven himself to be free of tribal sentiment from all
measures.
The heartbreaking
truth remains that a leader should not be chosen because you like or hate him but
because of the value of competency he possessed, you may not like his
personality, it does not matter, what matters is the value of competency he
possessed, the father of Barrack Obama was from Kenya in Africa but the
Americans saw value of competency in him and voted to tap his resourceful
value. Unfortunately, Nigerians are
clamouring for good governance but allowed sentiment to blind fold us. Must we
continue with this?
It is worthy to note that a
man who had triumphantly governed a State like Lagos, a State that could be
compared to Nigeria and be called a mini Nigeria with all Tribes and People from
the entire federating unit confidently living in it without intimidation by anyone
and could be triumphantly govern without Federal allocation yet could embark on
several projects, pay staff salaries before every months end, pay 13th month salary by percentage
inform of welfare in every months of December, employed over 10,000 more Senior
Civil Servants and ensure an employee recruitment platform that eventually increased
the staff strength to hit over 100, 400 Members of Staff, computerised the
entire Civil Service to the extent that clerical staff uses computers and
cleaners could even use computer such a man has the blueprint to take Nigeria
to the promised Land.
HIS ILL HEALTH RUMOUR
A widespread rumour has it
that he is battling with a significant ill health that may hamper his strength
to deliver; this is more than being comical for the acclaimed learned few to
reason in such a shallow thinking. Despite the alleged ill heath this man has been on the road 24 /7
moving from one Local Government to the other throughout the Northern part and
South West of the Country for political campaign without breaking down and
still moving to other parts.
More so, Governance is not
about running up and down with display of physical strength but ability to
think right and put the right lieutenants in the right positions
devoid of tribalism, religion or any form of sentiment.
When he emerged as the
Governor of Lagos State in 1999 he was not running up and down the State
physically yet he made an uncommon achievements.
ABILITY TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY
This is a man who
understand the importance of diversification of the Economy to yield uncommon
interest, hence, he invested the sum of N4 billion in econet and got N19
billion when he was the Governor of Lagos State this is just one out of many
reasons why the king maker should become the king.
Thank
you all, God bless Nigeria.
Fasina I. O
e-mail : fash270@gmail.com
