By Oke Godwin Olaoluwa (OGO).
DEAR, MR GOVERNOR,
Like many others, I want to heartily congratulate you on your re-election as the governor of Lagos State, for another tenure. In the last few weeks, your office must have been inundated with goodwill and congratulatory messages. I wish to join the numerous well-wishers.
Mr Governor, I am writing to you as a concerned Lagosian, who like many others, is deeply concerned about the radical change in the voting pattern in Lagos state. The voters’ apathy recorded in the past three election cycles predicts gloom for the future of the ruling party, and the progressives’ family at large. It suggests Lagosians are getting fed up with the shenanigans of the political structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state.
Mr Governor, let me take you down memory lane. In the 2011 gubernatorial elections, about 1,509,113 Lagos residents voted for the party to win the elections. In 2015, the figure dipped to 811,994 voters who voted for the party to clinch the governorship ticket. In the 2019 elections, the number of voters that supported your election as governor dropped to 739,445. In 2023, you won your re-election with 762,134 voters, which showed a marginal increase in the number of voters compared to 2019. According to a report, the registered members of the APC in Lagos are about 2.5 million as of the year 2022. By implication, only 30% of party members voted for you in the last general elections.
Mr Governor sir, it might interest you to know that, the analysis suggests that, since 2011 to date, about 50% of Lagos voters have lost confidence in the party to deliver the dividends of democracy. The APC may be the ruling party in Lagos State, but its popularity among Lagos residents is contentious. If we compare the figures of actual voters with the number of registered voters in Lagos, it shows that there are over 3.5 million voters that have never used their Permanent voters’ card. The question is, when they decide to exercise their voting right, will it be for or against the ruling party?
Mr Governor sir, the 2023 election was won squarely on the merit of your strength of character, personality and record of good governance. The party structure did not add as much as expected to your votes. The supposed owners of the party structure have lost credibility among the people. They know they cannot win in a fair contest; hence they whip up identity sentiments to lure unsuspecting voters. I do not think that is your style of politics.
Mr Governor sir, there is a wide gap between the ruling class and the governed in Lagos. There is a perception that governance at the grassroots level has been neglected. The local government is seen as safe for free money. Every party stakeholder; from the council executive to the bureaucrat and the party leader, gets on the gravy train. This is at the expense of motorable inner roads, good primary schools and quality primary healthcare. In the last local government administration, some youths conducted an assessment of local council administration within the Ikorodu division, and the result rated them poorly. They were awarded a second term by the party hierarchy, this is how the party regurgitates failure at the grassroots level.
Mr Governor, the election is done and dusted, but it is important to introspect and take stock of events. I know traditional politicians do not take lessons from elections. Once an election is over, they retreat to their cocoon, only to resuscitate in the next election cycle. The 2023 elections have provided a lot of lessons to shape the future of the party if they can be applied.
Mr Governor sir, Progressivism is about advocating for regular reformation of the system to suit the present reality. A stitch in time saves nine, your actions in the days ahead will be a deciding factor for the future of the party. The first test is the appointment of your cabinet members. Sir, the core value that should underpin the selection of your team must be Capacity, Competency, Character and Credibility.
The second litmus test will be the next local government elections. I advise you to adopt the template of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State. Any aspirant for council chairman should be subjected to various background and competency tests. They must reflect the values you represent.
Once again, congratulations as you proceed to the next phase of your administration. The task ahead is herculean, but I know it is surmountable with your resilient spirit. I wish you the best.
Yours Sincerely,
Oke Godwin Olaoluwa (OGO).
