Ayodele Olalere
With less than two years to the end of his tenure, there have been speculations on the chances of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu getting a second term of another four years in office.
The concern over his return for another four years seems to be the major talking point among Lagosians and in political circles.
Understandably, the furore over his chances of clinching the party’s ticket for another term as governor was as a result of circumstances that surrounded the exit of his predecessor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who spent just a term in office.
Immediately after Sanwo-Olu came on board, rumours went into town that party bigwigs in the state were disposed to having a one-term governor henceforth.
Others opined that Sanwo-Olu was brought in by party leaders to complete the eight years tenure of a Christian governor in the state (which ex-governor Ambode, a Christian, could not complete), as his predecessors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, who were Muslims spent eight years each in office.
Speculations were also rife that the incumbent was chosen by party leaders to become governor so he could complete projects that were abandoned by his predecessor.
Therefore, many Lagosians have been apprehensive and unsure of whether the incumbent would be allowed to secure a second tenure.
But does Sanwo-Olu deserve a second term?
The uncertainty over where the pendulum swings in 2023 as to who will become the governor of Lagos State was brought to the fore during a recent interview with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Prior to the interview, there were rumours that the lawmaker was eyeing the seat of a number citizens of the state in 2023.
However, the Speaker, in his response, gave a hint on the direction the party in the state may go as to who becomes the next governor.
Asked if he has planned to unseat Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the speaker was as blunt as he had always been
“The present Governor of Lagos State (Sanwo-Olu) is doing a good job. The fact that we had a one-term governor at one time doesn’t mean it is going to be the same forever. This governor is doing a good job under the current circumstances. It’s been a difficult time in his last two years and he has come out well. So, why should anyone upset the apple cart? I think he (Sanwo-Olu) is doing a good job,’’ Gbajabiamila said.
Clearing the air on his rumoured ambition to contest for the Lagos’ governorship seat, he added that he had “no immediate plan” to contest.
He said: “No, I don’t have any such plan and I don’t have an immediate plan. I have a job I am doing right now. As for the Lagos State governorship, I have not even thought about it. Why? Because the present governor is doing a good job.”
Barely a few days after Gbajabiamila’s tacit endorsement of him for a second term, Sanwo-Olu, in another interview, exuded confidence that his performances since he came on board were proofs that he deserved to be given another term, not minding whatever ‘unwritten agreement’ existed before his first term.
Asked if he deserves a second term, he replied: “To be honest, I think so and I say this at the risk of rating myself, because I am a humble person. And why do I say this? You do not see leadership being put to test back to back as what we have seen in Lagos in the last two and a half years. It happened so often and so quick, that one could be stretched to its limit. And it is like a question you need to ask yourself: if you have a crisis, who do you call?”
He added: “When you guys came in here some minutes ago, I told you that the only thing I check in the morning is if my emergency general manager has called me; if my Commissioner of Police has called and if my Transportation Commissioner has called me. That is because this is what I live and dream, to see how I keep the state and the city alive and well, working for the citizens.
And this is an experience that is only when you are in the eyes of it that you can get it. People can talk, people can assume, but indeed you need to be on the seat for you to appreciate and see. As I said earlier, you don’t throw away an experience that is so critical and so forceful; you certainly cannot throw it away. I never imagined it is going to be this tough, but with God and all the people I have been surrounded with in terms of support, and Lagosians giving me the full backing, I think we have done a fairly good job.”
That he exuded such confidence was not surprising. A critical consideration of some projects his administration had carried out since he came on board gives evidence to his chances of securing the party’s ticket come 2023. One of the major areas the governor has performed creditably well has to do with road transformation.
Having spent over 700 days in office, his commitment to reducing the traffic congestion in the state is evident in the numerous road projects his administration had carried out in over two years.
It is not an understatement that Lagos State is one of the state’s across the world known for traffic congestion. Commuters spend several hours in traffic on a journey supposed to last few minutes.
Such is the chaotic situation of traffic in Lagos that many Nigerians in other parts of the country are filled with fear whenever they have one or two things to do in the Centre of Excellence, as Lagos is known.
However, the recent commissioning of several road projects has laid credence to the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to ‘free’ Lagosians of the dreaded Lagos traffic.
It is also part of the governor’s THEMES agenda, the first ‘T’ standing for effective Transporation and a good road network.
As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and the vision of making Lagos a smart city, there is a need to improve the existing road network across Lagos State.
One of such roads is the Ojota to Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way via Opebi link bridge to Opebi road and Ikeja.
The Ikeja-Opebi road no doubt is a strategic road, owing to the high number of vehicular movements on the axis. The Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way to Ikeja is also notorious for heavy traffic. Therefore, several hours are lost.
For those coming from Ojota to Maryland and to Ikeja, the Opebi link bridge beside Sheraton Hotel had always been an alternative route whenever there is traffic on the Mobolaji Bank Way to Ikeja.
Therefore, it came as good news when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced at a function recently that as part of the transformation going on in Lagos, his administration was planning to construct a link road that will ease traffic in the Ikeja axis.
The construction will include a link bridge, which will connect the end of Opebi road with the Iya Alaro bridge, which is situated between Ojota and Maryland. Another phase of the bridge would also be extended to connect the Third Mainland Bridge.
According to the governor, people coming from Ikeja, and going towards Ikorodu road at Ojota or Maryland will no longer need to go through the existing routes, such as Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way. They could easily go through Opebi and link the new bridge at the end of Opebi road.
In March, Sanwo-Olu commissioned a 1.4 Kilometre dual carriageway flyover bridge at Pen Cinema in Agege Local Government Area of the state.
Prior to the construction of the bridge, the traffic congestion at Pen Cinema was a nightmare for residents of the area, as it was a major meeting point for commuters going to Ishaga, Fagba, Abule-Egba to link Iyana-ipaja.
Agege residents had clamoured for the construction of a bridge to reduce the congestion.
At the commissioning, the governor said the delivery of the bridge was in realisation of his administration to deliver good roads to Lagosians, and in line with the State, Strategic Transport Master Plan deployed to bring immediate impactful succour and relief to commuters in the area.
“The delivery is a strong message of our resolve to deliver well-articulated roads for the use of all residents in Agege and its environs
“Let me assure all the residents of Agege and indeed Lagos that we shall not relent but continue to provide more roads and more infrastructure for our people.
“Human benefit is of enormous interest to this government. We shall not relent but think of more benefits for entire people.
“I want to tell you that this project is for you and economic development. Take full charge and then ensure full maintenance of the entire project,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In June, the governor also brought relief to people, living in the Ijede area of Ikorodu when he commissioned the first phase of the newly constructed Ijede Road, a development expected to ease vehicular movement around Ijede town in the Ikorodu area and lessen the pains of people living in the area.
The governor had also disclosed that construction work would soon start on the second phase of the project, measuring 5.9Km from Ewu Elepe to Gberigbe, which is the gateway to the Imota Rice Mill being built by the state government in the Ikorodu Division.
“We will continue to fulfil our promise of providing Lagosians with a modern, safe, decent and reliable intermodal transport system. Ikorodu Division has had a fair share in the ongoing infrastructure projects across the state.
“The Ijede Road we are inaugurating today is an important intersection that connects about 37 communities. We promised we would rehabilitate and upgrade the road to bring succour to our people, who daily bear pains in commuting on the axis. We have delivered the first phase, which stops at Ewu Elepe. There will be an extension of the project to Gberigbe Town and Ijede Jetty, which is Phase 2 of the work and the contractor is to commence work immediately,” the governor stated.
According to him, other projects currently being undertaken by the state government include the rehabilitation of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road in Igbogbo, upgrading of Agric- Ishawo Road, rehabilitation of Oba Sekumade Road, and ongoing palliative work on inner roads.
Residents of Ikoyi are not left out in the massive road construction going on in the state, as the governor also opened a network of roads in the highbrow area.
The 3,747metres of road included the 1,499Km Thompson Avenue, 928 metres long Milverton Road, and 760/580metres long MacDonald/Lateef Jakande Road.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the reconstruction of the roads was in fulfilment of his campaign promises.
“Our administration is cognizant of the fact that strategic investment in infrastructure is the foundation for long-term growth, and the provision of adequate road infrastructure will generate a strong economic base for improved productivity and standard of living.
“This is a simple testimonial of our promise to ensure every point of our city feels the dividend of democracy. I want to advise every resident within this axis to refrain from constituting a nuisance on the roads. They should ensure that the drainages are not blocked and keep the neighbourhood clean. There should not be trading on the walkway,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Like other commissioned roads, the anticipated Opebi-Ojota link bridge, when completed, will also bring succour to Lagosians.
One Mr Segun, who works with a commercial bank in Opebi, expressed excitement at the proposed bridge. He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the thoughtfulness to embark on the project and urged him to speed up the commencement of the construction.
The health sector was also not left out, as several primary health centres have been built, equipped and commissioned. His handling of the first, second and third waves of the Covid 19 crisis has received applause from several quarters.
The purchase of over 100 brand new compartment trucks and bins for the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, for a cleaner Lagos initiative was another high point of his administration.
The Housing Estates are not left out. Several housing estates have been opened at Lekki, Ajah, and other parts of the state. Some are currently nearing completion and would be opened in October
