Lagos State has been agog with campaigns, for the upcoming local government election, slated for July 12 and Amuwo Odofin, home to the famous FESTAC TOWN and its alluring neighbourhood is not left out of the political fiesta. The ruling party in the local government and the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and some mushroom parties to contend with, at the polls.
After a highly contested party primary, the chairmanship candidate of APC, Prince Lanre Sanusi (PLS), and his deputy, Maureen Chika Ashara, are not leaving anything to chance in their campaign for votes. In the past two weeks or so, this writer has thrice witnessed the candidates speak on their vision and mission for the local government area hence this piece. The first was an evening with Amuwo Odofin Stakeholders Forum, of which this writer is the legal adviser. The candidates were clear on their mission to build an all-inclusive local council, regardless of tribe or religion.
The Amuwo Odofin Stakeholders Forum has Sir Benson Abalogu as chairman Board of Trustees with Sir Chidolue Levi Chidinma as vice. The key officers are Chief G.C. Ochie, chairman, Chike Okonkwo, vice chairman, Barrister Chidi Njoku, Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Orjichukwu, Treasurer and Chief Kenneth Ntong, PRO. In the interactive section, at Benny Hotels, the business moguls, professionals, residents and dignitaries who make up the nascent group told the candidates that the sole aim of the group is to promote good governance in Amuwo Odofin and by extension the state. They pledged funds and campaign materials to the team.
At another well-attended meeting with the general Amuwo Odofin Stakeholders, organized by the local government at the Festival Hotel, the young and ebullient Sanusi, who goes by the acronym PLS, showed promising prospects in political rapprochement, which this writer hopes will crystallize into an enduring political relationship with indigenes and non-indigenous residents of the local government area.
Considering the infrastructural challenges facing the local government, particularly the dilapidated roads and blocked drainages within FESTAC TOWN, this writer was initially apprehensive how the evening would go. With who is who in Amuwo Odofin seated in the hall, with the incumbent chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Valentine Braimoh, it turned out an evening of honest conversation. Despite the rains and traffic bottlenecks at the apple junction road-about, intersecting Festac Town, Amuwo, Ago and Jakande Estate/Apapa expressway, which need a fly-over, the hall was filled to capacity.
Gathered were the representatives of the business class, land owners, professions, leaders of residential estates, landlords and tenants’ associations, market men and women, and the ubiquitous traditional rulers. Amongst the APC leaders in the local government council, were the party chairman, Apostle Ayodele Ogungbiye, the councillorship candidates, and those who contested for the chairmanship ticket with Prince Sanusi. After introductions, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Igbokwe George Orji (Okosisi Nnewi), in his introductory remarks delved into the two major reasons for the gathering. The first is to lay bare the challenges facing Amuwo Odofin Local Government.
He mentioned three major challenges facing Amuwo Odofin Local Government, namely, roads, roads, and roads. His presentation resonated well with the audience, since all the roads in FESTAC town are in ruins. The chairman made a handsome donation towards the fund raising. Another speaker raised the issue of discriminatory taxes and rates within the local government, asking for equity and equality in assessment for indigenes and non-indigenes alike. The next speaker urged Prince Sanusi and his team to collaborate with estates to maintain the roads and other infrastructure within the local council.
This writer who spoke on behalf of the Amuwo Odofin Stakeholders Forum, urged other stakeholders, especially non-indigenes to collaborate with Prince Sanusi who has made strong impression as a detribalized candidate in the forth-coming local government election, with an impressive manifesto. Another impressive outing by Prince Sanusi and his deputy was the meeting with the leadership of the Catholic Men Organization, Festac Deanery, led by its coordinator, Sunday Dim. After an evening of frank conversation, the consensus was that the APC candidates should be given a chance in the forthcoming local council election, unlike the voting pattern in the past.
At each of the meetings Sanusi, didn’t disappoint his guests. In the event at the Festival Hotel, Sanusi before delving into his presentation, first removed his jacket and folded his long sleeves shirt, like a manager set to confront a big task. He gave a brief resume of himself, tracing his ancestry to the first Oba of Amuwo. He reminded his audience that he started small in the nearby market, like an Igbo apprentice, where he cut his teeth in business and established strong relationships. He subsequently travelled to the United States of America, where he bagged a BSc in Business, and an MBA, from Dallas Baptist University.
Sanusi spoke eloquently on his blueprint for economic growth and expansion and laid before the assembly his five core values of integrity and accountability, excellence and innovation, inclusivity and equity, sustainability and stewardship, and collaboration and partnership. Thrice he has promised that within the first 100 days in office, he would make motor-able the 2nd Avenue road, a major artery into FESTAC town, which has become a death trap. Sanusi, urged residents of the local government to vote for the APC in the forthcoming local government election, to give him a bargaining power to attract state and federal support to the local government, with a peculiar status.
He promised to seek collaborative partnership between Amuwo Odofin and County Councils in the USA. He reminded the audience that FESTAC town estate belongs to the federal government, even though it is the seat of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area. Indeed, FESTAC town is like a goat owned by many, which is left hungry, as each part-owner leaves the others to make provision for the hungry goat. At each session, the stakeholders contended that what will endear APC to the residents of Amuwo Odofin local government area are good roads, whether done by the local government authority, state government or the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), in the case of FESTAC town.
As a stakeholder, this writer hopes Prince Sanusi will live up to his mission statement. On it, he wrote: “My mission is to build a vibrant, inclusive, and diversified economy where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.” He continued: “I am committed to fostering lifelong opportunities that uplift social welfare, ensuring that prosperity is shared by all, not just a few.” The Amuwo Odofin Stakeholders Forum, and indeed other stakeholders, earnestly look forward to a new era of political rapprochement, for the benefit of all and sundry.
Credit:The Nation