· Crucial lessons the Lagos governor could teach his Ogun state counterpart
Yes, if Governor Akinwumi Ambode starts a school on leadership and governance, some governors should definitely be his most ardent students.
Governor Akinwumi Ambode rocks. The dark and dashing man tickles Lagos from the city to the boondocks. Like a Victorian Knight, he vies for the fancy of the courts and the dreams of the hoi polloi.
He is a visionary too. He’s got great dreams for Lagos state no doubt and he’s got an excellent palate for the iconic in arts, politics and industry.
Unlike his peers in other states, who stifle their domains, like Victorian overlords trampling the peace and shoots of genius, without a care in the world. Ambode understands that good governance goes beyond providing infrastructure and enabling growth across all spheres. He understands the significance of symbolic acts and gestures; this is why he leaves no stone unturned in his bid to elevate and institutionalise the celebration of icons of the Yoruba race.
Besides the great respect he exhibits to globally acclaimed literary giant, Wole Soyinka, Governor Ambode has institutionalised the celebration of late music icon, Fela Kuti and political sage, Obafemi Awolowo by the Lagos state.
This is ironic, considering the fact that Wole Soyinka, who is still alive, and late Kuti and Awolowo, are not indigenes of Lagos state. Rather, the literary icon, music maestro and political sage respectively, hail from Ogun state.
But while Lagos makes it a point of duty to constantly and religiously celebrate them, Ogun, the land of their birth, flagrantly ignores them under the leadership of Governor Amosun. The latter, to the chagrin of the Ogun state populace and the industries associated with the works of the three genii, pays no heed to their attainments and contributions to arts, politics and humanity.
It is noteworthy though that while Governor Ambode recently commissioned a statue in memory of late Awolowo, the late sage’s effigy currently on display in his hometown in Ikenne, Ogun State, is in bad shape. It is cast with no shoes and in shoddy dimensions. The sculpture looms largely in great dishonour to one of Nigeria and Africa’s most revered political icons. Yet neither Governor Amosun nor his predecessors ever deemed it fit to commission a more honourable work in tribute to the late sage.
Thus while Lagos government under Ambode, contribute immensely to the festivities marking the genii of the three icons, Amosun simply turns a deaf ear and blind eye to the proceedings. He seems unperturbed about the fact that another state and governor are reaping glories and honour accruable to Ogun state, where he currently presides.
