by Ozioma L. Ebirim
Barely one year in office, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State is already demonstrating zeal for legacy and proving his mettle in the task of governance. Curiously, the fixing of inner –city roads, a matter of deliberate policy to complement the “Operation Light up Lagos” project has been well received and acclaimed by Lagosians. This is just part of the numerous programmes and projects which the Ambode administration has embarked upon.
Of particular interest here is the rehabilitation of Ikotun-Ejigbo road. Residents of Isolo, Okota, Ikotun, Egbe, and Oke-Afa, have been heaving a big sigh of relief since the project commenced. Lagos State Public Works Corporation [LSPWC] has since tarred the road from Jakande Estate gate to Ikotun, making life bearable for residents and road users. Before now, a journey of 20 minutes was taking more than two hours on this particular road.
It is indeed gratifying
and heart-warming to note that Governor Ambode had promised to fix Ikotun-Ejigbo
road mid-last year, when he paid an unscheduled visit to the area. Governor was
quoted saying “I have come personally to see for myself the state of Ejigbo
road and it is very clear that this is totally unacceptable and there is no
other remedy than to let our officials come to site within the next one week
and the people of this neighbourhood should be guaranteed that work will start
on Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isolo axis within the next seven days”
Ambode passed the test of
trust when within one week as he said, men and materials were deployed to site
for the repairs. The strategic nature of the road as a major link road
connecting several Local Government/Local Council Development Areas, makes the
project an image-boosting one for the Ambode administration. That the Governor
has so far completed 300 major roads, work-in-progress in six others as well as
80 inner roads embarked upon across the 57 LGAs, is indeed a clear
demonstration of a man who wants to leave his footprints on the sand of time.
Lagos and Lagosians deserve no less. Ambode’s Community development strides are
really transforming the megacity which will by 2017 mark 50 years anniversary
of its creation in 1967.
Despite seeming pressure
and congestion, Lagos still stands out in terms of massive development of all
nooks and crannies of the state. One major pillar of development is road
construction. Good roads open up areas which ordinarily could not be networked.
We commend Governor Ambode
for his rural and community development initiatives. It is one of the easiest
ways a government can impact on people.
Again, given the social
contract theory of government as enunciated by John Locke and other thinkers,
government exists for the welfare and good of the people while the people need
to support the regime. Trust is the hallmark of leadership and this is what
Ambode is trying to demonstrate so far.
If and so long as he continues with laudable projects, his endorsement
for 2019 would be fait accompli.
Power resides with the people, communities and community-based organisations
are major drivers of power; they give it to who they will.
That Ambode is opening up
communities by re-constructing inner-city roads remains testimonial that the
Governor’s mind runs symmetrical with those of the ordinary masses of the
people who live mostly in those communities.
We say kudos to the
Governor and challenge him to indeed take Lagos to the next level, courtesy of
his community-oriented projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment