[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he problem with most Nigerian leaders is that they react to problems instead of tackling the root cause of the problem. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State is a good example of such terrible leadership. Curiously, this manifestation among state governors seems to be concentrated in the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
How can you ban street trading where majority of your people live in abject poverty?
How can you ban street trading when people spend most of their valuable time on traffic?
How can you ban street trading when the poor can not afford a shop in the government owned market where Tinubu’s daughter calls the shot?
To stop street trading, you must first deal with the issue of poverty and inequality in the society.
To stop street trading, you must first deal with the issue of traffic in Lagos.
To stop street trading, you must first provide shops for the poor amongst you.
The hypocrisy of APC leaders is so alarming, they deceive the poor and later subject them to suffering after they have gotten what they want.
Akinwunmi Ambode patronized street traders while seeking their votes but has turned around to ban them with threats of jail without making provisions for them or at least tackling the remote cause of street trading in Lagos.
Akwa Ibom State use to be known for housemaid jobs due to poverty and lack of access to education, to stop it, the government of Akwa Ibom state tackled the remote cause.
Former Governor Godswill Akpabio reduced poverty in the state by empowering women and youths, He built schools all over Akwa Ibom State and made education free and compulsory. Today, it is a criminal offence in Akwa Ibom for any parent not to send his or her ward to school because he/she has no excuse for doing that.
You hardly see people hawk on the streets because there are no traffic jams.
APC leaders have no regard for the poor in the society. The APC governor of Edo State, former Comrade Adams Oshiomhole destroyed goods belonging to poor people in Benin City and told a wailing poor widow to GO AND DIE.
Fashola as Lagos State governor deported poor people from Lagos.
Another APC governor, Nasir El Rufai demolished houses belonging to poor people in Kaduna State and asked anyone who does not like his style of governance to CLIMB KUFENA MOUNTAIN, FALL AND DIE.
In Imo State, the deceitful Governor Rochas Okorocha told workers that their salaries is a PRIVILEGE and not a RIGHT.
In Kogi state, we learnt that Governor Yahaya Bello is on a slapping competition with the labour leaders in the state for demanding their right, we also learnt he has drawn a battle line with the students in the state owned university.
APC leaders should know that leadership is a call to service and a privilege. They are elected to serve the people and not to be their masters. This attitude of bullying the people into submission must stop.
Lazarus Obinna, a graduate of Imo State University, is a political commentator. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
