Lagos 2015 Governorship: Who Takes Over From Fashola?

The recent political endorsement of Akin Ambode, the former Accountant- General of Lagos State by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1 on the book launch of the former has elicited mixed reactions on the 2015 governorship aspiration in the state. Some political groups in the state have faulted the unjust endorsement without due process in the same political party.

Lagos State is divided into three senatorial districts; Lagos West, Lagos East and Lagos Central. Since 1999 till date, Lagos Central and Lagos west have occupied the leadership of the fastest-growing commercial city in the world which needs a visible leader to lead the state come 2015.

Lagos State population is estimated over 17 million people which 40 percent is dominated by non- Lagosians. Though Lagos State leadership came into existence through the defunct party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 that brought Senator Bola Tinubu to power and later changed to the Action Congress (AC) and to the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and now merged with the foremost opposition party in Nigeria, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lagos State belongs to APC while the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others are putting all their political arsenals together to reclaim Lagos State from Senator Bola Tinubu. Senator Tinubu is the national father of the party that always takes the final decision or endorsement of candidates' nominations across the South west region.

Some schools of thought believe that Tinubu's power is limited in the sense that the party is no longer a regional but national affair. Since 1999 to 2014, Lagos State has witnessed significant improvement on infrastructure, security, construction of roads, health and others. APC believes in nominating best hands for leadership while PDP believes in zoning strategy to stabilize its polity. The issue of Muslim/ Muslim ticket should not be welcomed in Lagos State politics.

For a respected traditional ruler of repute, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1 to anoint Akin Ambode as the next governor of Lagos State never went well with many political evaluators who felt Lagos State need a reliable leader with credibility not handpicking one who takes order from his or her godfather or godmother. Lagos 2015 is not meant for political mediocre or dictators but for those with creative leadership spirit and nothing more. Though, some Lagos State governorship aspirants for 2015 are still strategizing, consulting, mobilizing, aligning and re- aligning to gain advantage at the polls. Some are deploying their pedigrees, educational, economic and network of contacts into the race.

The emergence of Babatunde Fashola in 2007 as the governor of Lagos State to replace Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu also drew elicited reactions that almost frayed the then party apart. In 2011, it was alleged rumoured that Bola Tinubu only wanted Babatunde Fashola to run for one tenure and the latter almost changed his mindset to defect from the ACN to unknown political party to continue his political aspiration while the PDP was ready to receive him and to be their candidate but the former read the political lines and with the intervention of the elders of the party and the rift was later settled amicably.

During the second tenure governorship debate organised by Channels TV to the 2011 governorship candidates, Raji Babatunde Fashola put a question to Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu that many promising aspirants of our noble party are resentfully livid on the way the party selects their candidates and why is it so? Bola Tinubu immediately replied Fashola that the same political manoeuvring that brought you to power and so let it be.

Lagos State has directly zoned the next governor to Lagos East Senatorial district which many aspirants are jostling for the office of Babatunde Fashola come May 29, 2015. PDP is one of the strongest opposition parties in the State also not quiescent its oars to take Lagos State from the hands of the APC. Who among the budding governorship aspirants will toe the same path of infrastructural developments of Babatunde Fashola in 2015?

Akin Ambode is one hopeful to look up to but was allegedly said his origin is from Ondo State not Lagos State. As a former Accountant- General of Lagos State, he knows the nitty-gritty of Lagos politics and stands the chance of emerging as the next governor of Lagos State if APC primaries are duly conducted without imposition. Hon Adeyemi Ikoforiji, the present serving speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and he is from Lagos East Senatorial zone which likely stands as one of the qualified aspirants for the next governorship elections of the state but the #35 billion financial scandal (EFCC) will also thwart his aspiration. He remains one of the best aspirants to beat in APC in Lagos State with his rich bank account.

Dr. Muiz Banire,Ex-commissioner for Environment is one aspirant with high profile pedigree and as a former University of Lagos, law lecturer and former defunct ACN State legal adviser and but he still needs to be anointed by the Lagos APC juggernauts to be reckoned with. Dr. Obafemi Hamzat is a present serving Commissioner with Babatunde Fashola whose father has contributed immensely to the developmental growth of the party as a way to use his son to recompense him for the position.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon presently Lagos west Senatorial zone is also indicating interest to run for Lagos 2015 governorship election but his zone has been represented by Ahmed Bola Tinubu from 1999 to 2007. Senator Gbenga Ashafa is also presently representing Lagos East Senatorial zone and also likely to be the choice candidate to emerge. Hon. Femi Gbagabiamila is the present minority leader of the House of Representatives also indicating interest for the position and he is a firebrand politician with integrity. The Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye is not left out in the race, he remains one of the best aspirants to beat in 2015. The former Bola Tinubu's aide-de-camp Gbolahan Lawal is another emerging aspirant to win.

Some rumours making rounds that Senator Remi Tinubu, the serving senate member and the wife of the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu also signifying interest to contest. Tinubu should know that Lagos State does not belong to him and family only. Hon. Hakeem Okunola is one aspirant to contest too.

Other opposition parties except PDP are yet to come out to run in 2015. No Lagosian is against the retinue of aspirants contesting for Lagos governorship elections in 2015 but wants a leader that would make the state as a centre of excellence in terms of creative and innovative leadership. On the other hand, PDP should not be taken to the cleaners by the Lagos APC, some likely aspirants for PDP are Dr.Ade Dosunmu, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu Bakare, Adedeji Doherty, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo,Demola Doherty and others.

The era of handpicking aspirants for leadership is over in Lagos State. So Akin Ambode should work hard for the people and other emerging aspirants should follow suit. The recent 30 APC defectors to the PDP in Ajeromi- Ifelodun LGA should not be totally celebrated by the latter as a winning party in 2015 but to put their political house in order and give funds to those that have the political minds of the party unlike what happened in 2007 and 2011 elections where some Lagos PDP top members refused to distribute the funds out to run the elections against the defunct ruling party ACN then in Lagos State. Both PDP and APC should see themselves as political parities not enemies in 2015, all in betterment of Lagos State. It is time to take the best out of the best in Lagos politics come 2015.

GODDAY ODIDI

PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST,

LAGOS

08058124798