OPINION
By Layi Deinde
The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give dignity and morality to life. ~ Albert Einstein
Lagos is important not just to Nigeria but Africa and the world at large. Her trajectory in the last twenty three years of the fourth republic has been phenomenal, though several grounds still need to be covered.
Dwelling on the sunny side the innovative ideas of raising the revenue from fifty million ₦50,000,000 a month in 1999 to over ₦1,000,000,000 one billion daily is commendable, though judicious utilisation should be further enhanced.
The volume of consumption tax or value added tax in the center of excellence dwarf that of the entire nation a function of system put in place since 1999.
Transforming the coastal city into a force to be reckoned with in Africa, growing to be the 5th largest economy in the whole of Africa is no mean feat. Such ideas ought to be further deployed towards the anticipated greatness quest of Nigeria.
Replication of the Lagos template is best handled by the Asiwaju team, I repeat the Asiwaju team, put together by no one other than the numero uno who has laboured over the years nosing far and wide digging deep for one of the best talents in the land and putting same to good use.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a leader of leaders, one that can strike water out of a dry looking rock, he towers shoulder above his contemporaries a function of his continued relevance till date.
A recap of 2007 transition at the “center of excellence” many candidates of good pedigree, sagacity and capacity jostled for the Marina House job. Asiwaju being whom he is had an ace kept somewhere on how imperative it is raising the bar of governance in the state having served out the manadory two terms in office. An administrator will definitely deliver better than a core Politician a reason he settled for @Babatunde Raji Fashola who went on the fly the governance flag higher than the established pedestal.
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The present Lagos arrangement is with what can serve as the balancing lever as a means of checking excessiveness of the Executive. A victim of the check mechanism was @Akinwunmi Ambode as he was denied a second term.
Present Nigerian arrangement will be most ideal with Asiwaju retaining his “defacto” governor status as a veritable balancing tool serving a multitude of purposes such as providing a cover for the occupier of the seat of power from the hawks, continue to perform the checking responsibility, serving as an effective interface between the populace and the seat of power often encircled by subordinates that paints false picture to LEADERSHIP.
The Buhari administration undoubtedly is insulated by his retinue of self-serving subordinates. This has done untold damage to the delivery of the regime having dire impact on the LEGACY of the government.
Governance is more about service and less about personality and their respect aspirations.
As whoever emerge as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate hots up all potential winners should not kick the wrong ball as the consequence of such has a very bitter taste.
Oloye Layi Deinde, a Civil Engineer and Social Media commentator writes from Ogun State, South West Region of Nigeria
