The race for Government House in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, has commenced. But one thing is certain: the young man often seen in a white cap is not in the conversation.
Daring, young, articulate but not so intelligent, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour possesses some of the attributes expected of a Lagos governor.
But two things stand in his way: his membership in the wrong political party and, despite his assumed brilliance, his lack of knowledge about the masterplan that has turned Lagos into the Centre of Excellence and a destination for growth and development.
Demystifying the masterplan and the man behind it
In 2022, former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, was asked what made Lagos such a monumental success story, one that is now the envy of some African countries. Fashola replied: “President Bola Tinubu gave us a masterplan and foundation with which Lagos will be developed continuously without interruption. That was the plan I followed as Lagos governor and my successors. The evidence of Lagos’ development is glaring to all today, and we are just beginning.”
This writer has followed Tinubu from his days in the Senate. He is not in the mold of some of our leaders who have battered leadership. Like the visionary Awolowo and the cerebral yet humble Lateef Kayode Jakande, I can declare that BAT thinks outside the box and sees opportunities where many would not. No wonder millions of Nigerians voted for him to drive the country to the Promised Land in 2023.
Tinubu’s method of choosing successors is unique, rarely seen in Nigerian politics. That his successors have continuously remained loyal to him, while ensuring that the masterplan for Lagos is effected, is an indication of the father-son-like relationship that exists between them.
In 2007, as his tenure wound down, it was time to choose the next governor to keep Lagos on the right track. During a chat with reporters, PBAT showed an unusual level of meticulousness, particularly regarding one to carry out his vision for Lagos among the parade of politicians, most of whom were his cabinet members.
He analysed their personalities one after another, speaking about their strengths and weaknesses. Like the back of his hand, Tinubu demonstrated uncommon knowledge of those who made up his cabinet and fit to lead the state to the next phase.
As newsmen, we had our preferred frontrunners, many of whom Tinubu found wanting in their capacity to serve as politicians and public servants.
His choice had been made. The man to replace him and continue the masterplan, which has since become the development blueprint for all his successors, was then Chief of Staff, Babatunde Fashola SAN.
An erudite lawyer, seasoned technocrat and astute builder, Fashola was not even pushing for the governorship ticket. In hindsight, that decision to select him helped Lagos immensely. In fact, it expedited the masterplan.
By the time Fashola completed his eight years, Lagos had been transformed. Guided by Tinubu’s masterplan, the former governor focused on rehabilitating Lagos’ infrastructure through collaboration with the private sector.
For a state whose population kept increasing, Fashola also introduced air-conditioned city buses, the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, system, complete with dedicated lanes.
Likewise, over 110 rural development projects were completed under the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Structure. By the end of 2009, 104 communities had been metered for the provision of a modified Type A water system funded through the Intervention Fund.
On security, the Fashola government transformed former criminal hideouts into visually appealing environments and established the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to effectively and sustainably fund the state’s security needs.
His successors, Akinwunmi Ambode and the incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have not derailed from that plan. Today, Lagos boasts functioning Blue and Red Rail lines, Eko Atlantic as a city of its own, remaining the cynosure of all eyes.
Incoming architect
But dubbed the incoming architect of a new Lagos by his dreaming supporters, Rhodes-Vivour has consistently demarketed Tinubu and refused to acknowledge these achievements.
Is it possible that his affiliation with struggling opposition parties has clouded his vision or impaired his hearing to the point that he does not see these accomplishments? I think so.
His recent interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, where he pointed to an area like Isale Eko as a symbol of Tinubu’s failure in Lagos, is a clear example.
Wearing his usual white cap, he said: “It (Isale Eko) has been completely destroyed, looking like a ghetto, even though it has history that goes as far back as 1910.”
Such comments are the reason knowledgeable Lagosians would not vote for him or his party of strange bedfellows, the ADC, to lead them. Bad mouthing a historic area like Isale Eko because of his personal hatred for Tinubu and the masterplan is a no-no, one that would never sit well with Lagosians.
More often than not, he has shown his lack of understanding of why Lagosians are happy to see the continuation of Tinubu’s masterplan.
Last lines
That said, Rhodes-Vivour may represent youthful ambition and the hunger for change, but in Lagos where loyalty, continuity and outlined objectives are the ideals that brings votes, he stands no chance.
I can assure you that in 2027, the margin between him and the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate will be even wider than it was in 2023, when he lost by a whopping 46,000 votes.
Lagos masterplan is still running, and a visionary leader like Tinubu would not want it stopped
Oyatomi, Former Editor, (Sunda Vanguard), Author (FINGERPRINTS 2008) and a Lawyer, is a member of the Board of Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), a Think Tank based in Abuja.
