Since 1999, Lagos State residents have consistently elected governors of the progressive extraction and baring any upset on account of a bandwagon movement ravaging the political landscapes, it is expected that the political nomenclature of Lagos would remain intact.
However the election promises to be the most competitive in the checkered history of electoral democracy in Lagos State.
The successive switch of baton from one governor to the other proselytizing the same ideological credence, professing a congruence of developmental objectives and running on analogous party manifesto have combined to place Lagos ahead of other states in economic metrics and cosmopolitan barometer of a mega city.
Lagos has been able to forge a master plan which has made infrastructure development seamless and made it easier to appraise the stewardship of every governor against the preceding administration without the usual rivalry of who does what and on whose Imprimatur of initiatives.
The absence of this type of wholesome developmental structure in other states have slowed down growth oftentimes leading to imprudent policy options that foster many abandoned multi billion Naira projects initiated by preceding administrations.
This Saturday elections in Lagos are elections that bear no comparative stakes with any other state of the federation as it could trigger a transition that can make or mar the developmental trajectory of the nation’s commercial capital.
Weighing on the best among the three front liners in the Saturday’s election and with a bipartisan barometer that takes cognizance of tectonic experience, administrative profundity, institutional memories and the dispassionate grasp of what needs to be done, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu towers far above GRV and Jandor.
This amiable governor has no air of superciliousness and has displayed unrivaled ability to listen, introspect and multitask. These attributes are rare among men with executive powers and must be considered by Lagosians in exercising their franchise on Saturday.
Recruiting a fledgling hand through the ballot to manage the huge tectonic project like Lagos would definitely be counterproductive as the new inexperienced hand would need time to learn the intricate loop of executive nuances, these may consume the first two years of that administration thereby setting developmental agenda irretrievably backwards.
The hallmark of democracy is freedom of choice and the fecundity of that freedom is an outcome that produces the best candidate.
A freedom of choice that produces a mediocre outcome though recognizes the supremacy of the majority over the debility of the minority even when the minority is better informed and ingeniously guided, makes the overall majority, including those who will not come out to vote the ultimate victim.
Fellow Lagosians are therefore implored to exercise their franchise with utmost perspicacity and elect the best among the three frontline candidates. Not coming out to vote this Saturday would be crass negligence of our civil duties which may lead to unintended mediocre outcome.
Using our votes to procure another term for Babajide Sanwo-Olu would translate into a greater Lagos of our dream.
Bukola Ajisola,
bukymany@yahoo.com
SANWO-OLU AND SATURDAY’S ELECTIONS
