By Akinwunmi  Ambode

Reminiscences! As the good and great people of Lagos State celebrate the 47th Anniversary of its historic creation today, waves of nostalgia sweep yours truly. How old was one then? Just four years.

Here, the first popular political party, Nigerian National Democratic Party(NNDP) was formed by Herbert Macaulay in 1922. Described as ‘one of the most versatile intellects produced by 20th century Nigeria’, and called the Defender of Native Liberties, Macaulay was the rallying point for doctors, lawyers, landlords and market women. According to Mokwuko Okoye, ‘Lagos was able to dominate provincial Nigeria as Paris dominated the 18th and 19th century France.’

While the Sir Hugh Clifford Constitution of 1923 provided for four elected members with three for Lagos and one for Calabar, the NNDP did capture the three Lagos seats in the Legislative Council. And it continued to dominate Lagos politics for some 20 years with great minds in its ranks such as Dr.Adeniyi Jones, Eric Moore, Karim Kotun and Adeyemo Alakija

Lagos again became the epicenter in the nationalistic struggle with the return to the country of patriots such as Professor Eyo Ita, and Nnamdi Azikiwe in the early thirties. Eventually they saw to formation of  the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1934. Prominent as members were Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli, Samuel Akinsanya and H. O. Davis as the moving spirits. Their struggle was for Nigeria’s political independence as did the then newly formed Egbe Omo Oduduwa, which was inspired by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Ambode

Between then and now, Lagos has thrived economically under its leaders, starting from the tenure of Brigadier Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, Late Comm. Adekunle Lawal, Comm. Ndubusi Kanu, Comm. Ebitu Ukiwe, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Late Comm. Gbolahan Mudasiru, the late Navy Capt. Okhai Mike Akhigbe, Brigadier Gen. Raji Rasaki, Late Sir Michael Otedola, Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Brig. Gen.Muhammed Buba Marwa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the present administration of Gov.

Babatunde Fashola (SAN). In all, the thirteen of them have made tremendous contributions to the evolution of Lagos State at one point or the other. Equally worthy of mentioning are Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Alhaji H.A.B. Fasinro, Chief F.C.O. Coker, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas among others who made Lagos tick.

In fact, Jakande’s administration was particularly unique. He introduced housing and educational programs targeted at alleviating poverty.
He built new neighborhood primary and secondary schools even as it provided free education for these two tiers.

He established the Lagos State University and constructed over 20,000 housing units, all built cheaply and of great value.
After the military interregnum came one of the symbols of the democratic struggle, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the governor. The man hugely respected as the pathfinder of modern Lagos came with a vision; to transform the political and socio-economic landscape of Lagos for good. Did he succeed? Of course, yes.

When he promised 10,000 housing units during the campaigns he delivered. During his eight-year eventful period he made massive investments in the fields of infrastructural development, education and  primary health care delivery.

Beyond the construction of new roads to meet the growing demands of an exploding population, he brought administrative restructuring in several areas such as security, LASTMA, waste disposal system, LAWMA as well as the Rapid Response Squad to effectively contain crime and criminality within the metropolis.

It was such that brought in his successor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who has gone ahead to build worthy legacies for all to be proud of. With a vision to transform Lagos to a megalopolis, his administration has brought to bear sanity in virtually all the areas of the economy.

From tremendous infrastructural development of long lasting roads and drainages, education, healthcare delivery, urban transportation and waste management he stands head and shoulders above his peers.

Having been in a vantage position to work with the last two governors for thirteen years, I conclude this piece as I share with you all one lesson I learnt from serving under them by using the football anecdote. My two former bosses, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) are both great supporters of Manchester United, while I, their ward, is a Chelsea fan.

I have come to regard Asiwaju as the “special one” because, like the famous bearer of that title, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, he laid the solid foundation for the evolution of modern Lagos. Like ‘Mourinho’ he has the vision and the winning formulae. In May, 2003, at his inaugural speech for his second term in office, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu declared that “we will build with vigor on foundation laid in the first term until the momentum of positive change becomes forever irreversible in Lagos State”.

But the Special One needs a special manager and an ebullient visionary to accomplish the goals. If Lagos State were Manchester United, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the quintessential and indefatigable Alex Ferguson. He brought in his Midas touch in all facets of governance to actualize that positive change in the development and growth of Lagos State.
Ambode,writes from Lagos