Opinion: Dear Lagosians, Sustain Your Freedom, Vote Jimi Agbaje

Democracy is about to be clandestinely substituted for Monarchy and Feudalism in Lagos in substance if not in form.  The recent disgraceful comment of Oba Akiolu while meeting Igbo leaders in Lagos has brought an entirely new dimension to the Lagos Guber race ahead of the  elections on Saturday.

Oba of Lagos was shown on video ‎issuing threat to Igbo leaders in his words, he said,“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode, who I picked, that is your end. If it does not happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me”  This is not only disgraceful, irresponsible and disrespectful but it is indeed a clear confirmation of the believed by many that a cabal has held Lagos by the jugular for years. the Oba boastfully said he picked Ambode and that noone  knew how and why he picked it him. That has brought to the fore front ahead of the elections questions about the Ambode candidacy and his suitability as Lagos Governor. not a few beleived that Ambode,who has not shown in this electioneering to be intelltually savy like Fashola is a creation of the Lagos cabal. For The Oba of Lagos to openly said he picked Ambode goes to confirm believe in some quarters that the primary that threw up Ambode was a charade and was stage managed. One of the major issue in this campaign  has been the need to end Tinubu’s grip on Lagos. The tone of the King’s voice, suggest an utter desperation of a Man who fears he  might loose the grip on Lagos very very soon.  There is a cabal in Lagos. You don’t need to be a soothsayer to know that Ambode will be answerable to that cabal first and foremost before Lagosians.

But some are also saying Agbaje is backed by a Godfather Bode George.  This is not true. Agbaje needed a party structure to contest after his former  party DPA was deregistered . Politics is majorly alignment of interest here and there. What he did, is to be bring his Goodwill and popularity into a PDP structure which has Bode George ,seye Ogunlewe Tunji Shelle, Owokoniran, Obanikoro etc as its leaders.  Some people also think this means Bode George and the rest of this leaders would control  Agbaje as governor. Well, again, nobody can be sure. you’ll never know the true capacity of any Man until you give him Power. They are mere speculations. again, Agbaje is not known to succumb to these kind of things he is strong willed  perhaps it is the reason Tinubu dumped him for Fashola in 2007. nobody picked Agbaje’s running mate for him. he picked his running mate all by himself. Ambode can not say with a straight face he picked his running mate by himself.  Also, he doesn’t have with George or any other leader in the Lagos PDP the sort of longstanding Godson to Godfather relationship that Ambode has with Tinubu. Or the kind of relationship that can make a King to swell by Allah’s name to kill anyone who goes against his wish of a particular candidate.

While the Fashola and Tinubu government have done well in raising Lagos IGR from N10B in 1999 to N400BN today, that unfortunately  has not translate to a corresponding improvement  in the lives of ordinary lagosians as evident in the economic intelligence Unit EIU livability index report which put Lagos as the 3rd worst city to live in the world.  Lagos borrowing has also increased. As recent as 2007, Lagos  borrowing was about 51 per cent of the total revenue, but, as at the end of 2014, Lagos borrowing is now about 120 per cent of the total revenue. In other words, today, Lagos owes about N435 billion and income is about N389 billion.

By the admission of the state Government itself, it has built 25,000 housing unit in 16years. How can you want this to continue when Infact lagos needs about 120,000 unit each year for the next 10 years to meet the Housing needs of Lagosians. Agbaje has promised to deliver 150,000 housing units by 2018. ‎The excuse of the Lagos  government for not building low cost housing for lagosians is that the cost of cement is high ‎but this is a spurious Excuse because in reality, the state Government had used tax payers’ money to build for themselves, their cronies and the rich. Lagos State is ranked 36th in World Bank ratings of places where it is very difficult to get approval to build‎.

 The Ambode towncriers and propangalist are also going to the roof top to say Jk will cut taxes Agbaje did not say he is going to cut taxes. What he  said is he is going to introduce fairer Taxes. Many business men and women particularly SME owners in lagos,are overburdened by the Lagos Tax regime. Market women pay multiple tax in lagos. Agbaje has promised to address these issues swiftly. The lagos Government mocked Agbaje’s idea of free WIFI describing it as Bold Ignorance but ironically the Government went ahead to lunch busses with Free WIFI.

In all, Agbaje has led a policy-based campaign, he has shown he understands the issues more and he is presenting workable solutions. Apart from Ambode being a confirm puppet of the Lagos cabal, he has also shown his struggle with understanding basic issues that affects Lagos. He is yet to fully unravel the misery behind Ocean Economy that Agbaje lectured him on. Come saturday  let us have fresh air in lagos, let us free Lagos from the palace cabal that has held lagos by the Jugular for years. Let us sustain our democratic freedom and Aspirations as Lagosians. God bless us all.