By Uche Nworah, Ph.D
I was touched by the show of brotherly love and friendship shown by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, to his predecessor in office, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, when he visited him at his private residence on Thursday this week to share in the celebration of the former Governor’s 60th birthday.
Lagos has been progressively blessed with
good governors. Perhaps it is one of the great strengths of the former Governor
of Lagos state, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Commander
-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His ability to chose
and empower men to take over the mantle of leadership of Lagos state, Nigeria’s
gateway state.
From the administrations of Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode to that of Babajide Sanwoolu,
evidence abound of great improvements in governance, law and order, and
infrastructural development.
Watching Governors Sanwoolu and Ambode
exchange pleasantries and showering each other with words of encouragement
really touched me. This is because of the bitter politics both men were
engulfed in during the 2019 gubernatorial elections which saw incumbent
Governor Ambode losing out to Sanwoolu after just one tenure. It was as if
Ambode was disgraced out of office. Words, very unpleasant ones were said from
both camps then.
Fast forward to 2023, with the Godfather and
Kingmaker now busy with federal government duties in faraway Abuja, it appears
that Governor Sanwoolu is coming to his own and the peace move to Ambode’s
house is a welcome development. Hopefully, this will bear good fruits and just
like Governor Ambode remarked, it would lead to more support for the programmes
of Governor Sanwoolu to enable him leave a good legacy.
There are lessons to learn by South East
governors here, past and present. There is need to close ranks among former
Governors and the incumbents. Enough of the bickering and personal wars. What
should matter is the continued development of the various states so that the
people will enjoy more dividends of democracy.
Since we are in the spirit of national
reconciliation and unity, may I plead with Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to extend
the olive branches to settlers and non-Lagosians living in Lagos. The elections
have been won and lost and to the Glory of God, the governor of Lagos state is
Governor Babajide Sanwoolu. Yes, there may have been perceptions of
non-Lagosians swinging with Labour Party during the last election but all that
is in the past now. As Ndigbo will say, let all that bit us last night be
regarded as mosquitoes.
Lagos is on the move and settlers living in
Lagos who have journeyed from all over Nigeria wish to be part of this
movement. They want to be carried along. The rhetoric that Lagos is no man’s
land which gained currency during the last election is false. It was only
promoted by people bent on destroying the cordial settler-indigene relationship
that has remained the hallmark of living in Lagos state over the years.
It is this falsehood that may have given rise
to the reported plans by the Lagos state House of Assembly to pass laws that
will protect indigenes and their rights regarding lands, properties etc. The
said laws are set to disenfranchise settlers and rob them of their rights with
regards to ownership of properties they bought in Lagos.
History will continue to be kind to Governor
Babajide Sanwoolu if he is able to help settlers avert this impending economic
disaster. As the father of the state, the Governor should spread his umbrella
arms to shield settlers. His government should integrate settlers through
giving them political appointments, attend their events and make accommodating
statements. After all, the strength of Lagos has always been its unique
diversity, men and women drawn to the city of lights working hard, paying taxes
and contributing their own quota towards the continuing development of Lagos
state.
Nworah, a Media and Communications Consultant
writes from Lekki.
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