" What a wise man sees while sitting a visionless man cannot see it while standing"
Birthing my blurb from the musing of the quote above, i'll love to allot it to the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress(APC) and the Asiwaju of Lagos, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not for any other reason but for his political clout and doggedness in outlasting the series of intimidation being orchestrated by the Olusegun Obasanjo's administration in order to slay the creation of the additional thirty seven LCDAs in Lagos State.
After the political browbeating to stop its creation, the battle shifted to the court rooms, starting from the High Court to the highest court in the land, Supreme Court. All judgments delivered by the eminent justices were in favor of the Lagos State Government.
Not done in accepting the judgment, the federal government arbitrarily went on to disobey the verdict which led to the withholding of the local government allocation of the state.
While the plan was to ensure the Lagos State Government revert to the status quo, the resilience of the Jagaban of Borgu and diligent nature of the inaugural chairmen of the thirty seven LCDAs set a well guided economic plan to address the stalemate.
With the dwindling income in the state,the salaries of the Local Government workers went on without a comma for negotiation or reduction in wages.
Such rare moment created a elastic platform for the state to be self sufficient without the feeding bottle approach of the Federal Government.
For the past sixteen years, I have been residing in Agboyi/Ketu LCDA precisely Ward G (Owode/Ajegunle and Odo-Ogun axis. Before its creation, the major road network being tarred in the ward was facilitated by Hon. Obafemi Durosimi during his reign as a member representing Kosofe Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
With the recent signing into law of the various amendment done by the Lagos State House of Assembly by the prosperous governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and assurance from relative stakeholders, the race to commence the grassroot politics has begun with different candidates spreading their gospel in order to woo the electorates to their favor for a better show at the polls.
As a JJC , I was being careful not to be blindfolded in supporting the wrong choice rather I want a candidate that will be working in tandem with the wishes of the people.
So fortunate during my consultations to ascertain who is likely to emerge as the next chairman of Agboyi/Ketu LCDA, I met a young girl Gladys Obi " Durosimi is a performer, the free school bus scheme embarked by his administration is enough for my parents to vote for him. He has helped my parents to save 400naira a day. I also know of a parent with three kids, #1,200 naira or more had been saved depending on the proximity to the take off point. If I don't say good about him, it is unfair, I have benefited" Gladys said
These words from her really encapsulated my mind and set it on an attentive path to listen to other residents.
Few weeks later and in coincidence with the strike being embarked by the National Association of Resident Doctors, I was on a bike to locate an address in the Ketu Area of the LCDA. To my astonishment I saw a signpost of a government owned doctor's quarters, I hurriedly pleaded with the bike man to ensure I skim through the signpost to ascertain which tier of government initiated this laudable project. After skimming, I saw the inscription of Agboyi/Ketu LCDA,just said to myself that this is a clear sign of welfarism at its peak at a time the Federal Government is finding it difficult to replicate similar for doctors.
The joy embedded in me and the words of Gladys Obi made me to mull in approaching the information officer of the LCDA but unfortunately I couldn't meet him, rather for me to be deterred, I decided to embark on a tour with my meager resources.
During my tour,the following projects are alluded to him running of a functional free bus scheme, rehabilitation of a primary school at Arowoshegbe, rehabilitation of Adedoyin Street, face lifting of Doyin Omololu roundabout , construction of Public Library and Doctor's quarters ,provision of Stationeries for School Children, provision of security vehicles for the Nigeria Police ,empowering Artisans with soft loans among many others
While the quote of " One good turn deserves another" is a mere statement to attract political sympathy, the political journey of Hon. Durosimi is a clear attestation of the statement.
His agitation for prosperous development has endeared him to all irrespective of creed,calling and political affiliations.
However, the minority will continue to grumble in championing their say but the majority have outscored them in having their way by telling him to return to office.
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