The mighty Lagos City Hall overflowed with people and cars on Tuesday January 19, 2014 as it hosted the second quarterly Town Hall meeting of Governor Ambodes administration.
From the beautiful lawns beneath the hall to the elevated drive way and the massive lobby and the magnificent main hall, every inch of space inside and outside was filled up, a demonstration of the strategic value of this meeting between the government and the governed which took place on that Tuesday.
While the first edition of Ambode’s quarterly stewardship account took place in the most populous and the acclaimed largest local government area in the country, Alimosho on October 6, 2015, the second edition was slated for the most powerful division/senatorial district of the state in Lagos Island/Lagos Central.
This zone is noted for both extremes of having the most influential citizens of the state as well as the most troublesome group – the area, boys, area girls, area, fathers and area mother.
No wonder the city hall venue of the January 19 interactive meeting was filled up with these two categories of people. For this reason, particularly the fact of hosting the meeting in the home of area boys, there was extra-ordinary security provided by all arms notably the police, army and civil defence corps.
It was a significant Tuesday as the entire state witnessed the first rain of the New Year which showered in some parts and watered other areas of the mega city to cool the air and sooth the harmattan dust.
To meet the 10a.m programme, the team from Oriwu Sun left Ikorodu by 7a.m yet, we could not beat the traffic or arrive as early as we desired. It was as if all roads, all people and vehicles headed for the City Hall.
Anyone who recalled how the Lagos City Hall located in the heartland of Lagos Island and important for various reasons burnt almost down several years ago, its successor today is a wonderful edifice standing tall, mighty, majestic and ultra-modern. Surrounded by modern high rise buildings, and office complexes, the city hall is protected on all flanks as symbol of opulence, power and democracy.
The 5000 capacity man hall which could double the intake on special occasions was at its best in terms of decoration, aura and architecture. Giant television screens were mounted at strategic locations inside the hall for easy pictorial appreciation by the audience.
The All Progressive Congress led government had institutionalized the periodic stewardship account as a hallmark of its democratic ideals Ex-governor Fashola called his own 100 days account while Ambode baptized his own Quarterly briefing. Both mean the same thing and aim at achieving the same goal – accountability.
Between 10a.m and 10:30am all the main guests including Executive secretaries of local governments, members of the State Executive Council, State House of Assembly members and their speaker were seated.
Few minutes after, Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. (Mrs.) Idiat Oluranti Adebule arrived, followed by the Governor himself.
The setting inside the hall was cordial and normal. Security men had tried desperately to keep off inflow of area boys into the main venue so that the interaction will be free and civilized.
Like every meeting, an opening prayer was said in this case by Mr. F.O.K. Sanya, the CDC chairman for Lagos Island while the opening Remarks were made by Prince Olusoji Ladejobi, chairman of Obalende Landlords Association who poured Encomiums on Ambode, calling him the Governor of Governors and a leader who gives confidence to his people. He described the City Hall as the cradle of democracy and expressed joy at what it looks like today after it was gutted by fire some years ago.
His remarks were buttressed by a scintillating performance by the Cultural Troupe of the Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture. A fifteen minute performance set the tone for the day’s event.
Without preambles and unnecessary protocols, Governor Ambode delivered his stewardship account, exuding confidence, knowledge, wisdom, humility and authority. His speech was mot as lengthy as the ones Fashola used to give but they covered every aspect and pungently dealt with subject matters. In his speech and in his interaction with the people and while answering questions he proved to be a leader who is neither proud nor arrogant, neither power drunk nor weak, neither autocratic nor docile (See Box) as he detailed the achievements of his administration and activities in the past quarter of the year.
As the Governor spoke, protocol officers and other aides went round to distribute, collect and collate questionnaires from the audience. Many were eager to ask questions to a governor eager to listen and to answer them all. The governor’s address was also translated in native Yoruba and, excellently abridged in a businesslike manner.
The high decibel, award winning campaign song … Ambo .. Ambo – rent the air as the mighty City Hall vibrated with loudspeaker output. It was an interlude to usher in the question and answer segment.
The interactive session reflected the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos mega city. A good number of non-indigenes of the state had the opportunity to speak and to ask questions.
The first shot was fired by one Barrister Charles Eihomoke of Justice for All Forum and it was on the menace of area boys the snatching of bags and of belongings of innocent people in early and late hours of the day as people go to work or return from work.
He also complained about those who grab the street to hawk their wares mounting tables, counters, containers etc thereby obstructing human and vehicular traffic.
Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Eze, a female politician in Ikorodu from Igbo Coalition Group spoke on lack of dividends of democracy for some who have labored in political vineyards of the ruling party in this state for over thirty (30) years.
A physically challenged Lagosian was the next to ask questions concerning their welfare while a community leader complained about a land approved for police station in Sandgross which was taken over by another person who built stalls/shops claiming police officers wives association as his backers. He also complained about vehicle drivers and okada riders who knock down their children on the roads especially in Lagos Island.
Prince Ayodele raised the issue of some people from his CDC who were promised jobs in KAI and LASTMA by the last administration (Fashola’s) but were not given.
Governor Ambode took the first set of questions. In a humorous fashion, he spoke in pidgin English saying “shebi this is a town hall meeting. I go answer the ones I know, the ones wey I no know, I go pass them to other people: Everyone laughed.
He began by affirming that he calls those boys who steal from people not as area boys, but criminals and hoodlums and when caught, they will be dealt with according to the law.
According to him, the new administration kept the young men, area boys busy for five days to end the year 2015 through the Lagos carnival and for the first time there was no stories of street gangs fighting or wars in Lagos Island.
Governor Ambode said he had given directives to engage these boys in various activities such as drainage/refuse cleaning, agriculture, KAI, LASTMA etc. He drew the attention of the Ministry of Environment to the issue of street grabbers adding that even the issue of land grabbers and grabbing (Ajagungbales) is being looked into seriously by the state government.
Cracking jokes with Chief (Mrs.) Eze, the governor noted that the APC is running an all-inclusive administration irrespective of tribe, gender or religion and that he had noted the issue of reward for investment by every politician. He promised the woman job opportunity for her daughter.
He also responded to the personal issue raised by a physically challenged saying that Lagos state is the first in the country to enact law to protect the disabled ones. He cited that this category of persons now enjoys free ride in BRT buses statewide.
He promised to look into some other issues he is hearing for the first time.
The next set of questions came from one medical doctor who complained about no new health facilities in Lagos Island, a community leader in Badiya area who talked about two state roads – one under construction, the other abandoned, while the area lacks pipe borne water and health facilities.
A pathetic case was presented on education as one person lamented that the Orile-Badagry highway/rail line project devastated three secondary schools between Orile and Mile 2 such that only a junior secondary school is left for the people of the area who now go miles away to attend public schools.
Somebody asked about the fate of the Computer Village in Ikeja programmed for relocation while questions came on line from facebook, twitter, Instagram etc.
The Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. (Mrs.) Idiat Adebule handled these questions. She explained that a lot had been done to provide health facilities in Lagos Island and that more will still be done. She promised that His Excellency will look into the Badia road project and the request for water and health facilities.
She shared the sentiments of many people at the City Hall over the plight of school pulpils in Sari Iganmu and promised that a new school will be built for that area in line with mordenization programmes of the Ambod’s government.
She confirmed that a suitable place has been provided by the State government for the computer village and that the government is in touch with leaders of the group on the progress and issues arising for purpose of a smooth transition to the new location.
She refuted insinuation by an online contributor that Alimosho is neglected saying that she is from that constituency and that the government is paying due attention to the area citing the recognition given to the area to host the first town hall meeting of Ambode’s administration which acknowledges the population of that area and the power of their votes.
An online appeal for pedestrian bridge at Alausa was responded to by a member of the cabinet who noted that this kind of bridge is needed more urgently now at Berger (Baga) point along toll gate to Ibadan Expressway.
A second break in the programme was allowed as Senator Remi Tinubu who represents Lagos Central was given the opportunity to speak at the Town Hall meeting and ask her own question if any.
Mrs. Tinubu made a brief remark noting that the six pedestrian bridges along Herbert Macaulay street where her office is located need to be rehabilitated alongside other infrastructure in the area.
A vociferous woman spoke in Yoruba vehemently against the police protection of the affluent in the society while being high handed and persecutory on the less privilege in the society. Someone commended what he called the Apapa magic which has erased the traffic gridlock caused by tankers and trailers along that Apapa port route. He pleaded that the magic should be sustained. Yet another pleaded for street light to be extended to other parts of Lagos.
Governor Ambode look up this segment and started with street light, an area he has passion for. He told Lagosians that anyone who connected a street light to his or her personal generator or meter to ensure continuity will get a handsome rebate from the state government on land use rate payment.
He commented on another issue of cultists raised by one of the residents saying that his government is facing the issue of fraternity frontally, noting that he grew up in Lagos but did not witness this on those days. It is a new phenomenon and is being viewed seriously by government.
He also spoke on other issues raised saying that his administration is making efforts to close the infrastructural gap between public and private schools. Ambode made the audience laugh when he called upon the commissioner of police to answer the question on police harassment and highhandedness against the poor ones. “CP – Owoseni”, Ambode beckoned at the police boss, “Lagosians are looking for you.”
The CP spoke brilliantly first in Yoruba, then in english. An eloquent talk and handsome police officer, he spoke aggregately on all the issue concerning security raised by many people including abandoned vehicles in the ways, snatching of people’s bagset.
Looking at the audience he said “Your children hide and keep guns in the abandoned vehicles by the road sides, when we catch then, you say they are not robbers. It is Lagos Island that has refused to co-operate with the police on security and vigilante matters you leave your compounds gates open for these boys to go out and do one thing or the other and when police chase them they run in and people shut the gates. Even against myself they refuse to open the gates because they have something to guide. Why should somebody abandon his bus or car in your frontage and you allow it if you are not an accomplice.
Their young boys move about by 1a.m to 2:00a.m with ogogoro and indian hemp when you arrest them, the next day their parents will come to plead their innocence and their release.
We want a change of heart and situation in this place. My office is open for those who want this positive change. I will make myself available to Lagos Island people for good.
Governor Ambode rounded off the meeting touching on almost all the question raised including integrity tests on Barracks pedestrian bridge and noting the ones mentioned by Senator Tinubu on Herbert Macaulay Street.
He also assured Cole street residents of efforts to ensure that the life for which Surulere had been known is sustained through street light provisions and other infrastructure.
The meeting ended at about 1:30p.m and area boys descended on the drive ways, gang ways, outside as they storm VIP, to seek for money. Typical of touts they were jumping barriers, dwarf walls and pavement menacingly in groups to run after vehicles all for the sake of money, confirmation of the fact that it will take the combined wisdom and talents of Tinubu the politicians who had control over area boys, Fashola the no-nonsense technocrat who did not tolerat them much and kept them abay and now Ambode, the techo-democrat to fashion out the solution to these boys beyond using them in KAI and LASTMA where people fear they will abuse powers.