Time to reward loyalty – The Sun Nigeria

Author: Remi Adefulu

Unquestionably, One of the main flaws of our electoral system is the lack of trust between the political class and the electorate.

Interestingly, the two are like Siamese twins, connected by a system of government that makes them inseparable.

This is one of the main reasons why Nigerian voters are perhaps the most frustrated in the world because most voters, although tired of voting, still exercise their right to vote.

While a large percentage vote with better leadership in mind, some vote for money, religion or ethnicity. Worse still, the masses are always victims of bad government policies, mainly caused by corruption and often lack of competence.

It is therefore not surprising that many still describe Nigeria, considered the giant of Africa, as a potentially great nation.

It is impossible to disagree with this, considering the enormous human and material resources that the nation has at its disposal.

So why can’t Nigeria move forward? Why are we the same as when Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang about the government’s bad policies over the years?

The same Fela died over two decades ago, why have we refused to shed the mantle of underdevelopment and take our rightful place in the community of nations?

This is certainly due to the lack of proper leadership to get us to where we truly belong.

Truth be told, the people deserve to shoulder some of the can because Nigerians have not been brave enough to collectively make the right choice.

So we are dealing with a mixture where we constantly have a mix of good, bad and ugly.

As a nation, we lack a strong democratic culture that makes those in leadership positions realize they hold them in trust for the people.

Rather, we are dealing with a system in which people are constantly held by the neck and therefore cannot demand their rights.

So you see a system in which citizens are at the mercy of politicians who do whatever they want, knowing that they are dealing with a poor electorate.

Even civil society is no better because most of them have gone to sleep and only wake up when their paymasters need them.

Worse still, the once active society in the times of late Beko Ransome-Kuti, Gani Fawehimi, Ayo Obe, Olisa Agbakob, Chima Ubani etc. can no longer find their voice. So who should hold the government accountable? Is it the ragtag Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) or Trade Union Congress (TUC) that has since lost its voice?

So we have a “to your tent, Israel” scenario in which everyone except the politicians and their associates were driven out to the Philistines.

The scenario we have just painted is of a part of Ikorodu which, by the way, is E4 ward, Ikorodu North Local Development Council area, Lagos State.

Basic amenities, especially roads, are virtually non-existent as the only tarmac road in the community, which was built over 30 years ago under the military administration led by Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinola, is now in disrepute.

Despite infrastructural challenges, the main one being the lack of access roads, politicians, especially from APC, still come every four years to ask for votes!

However, in the case of Philanthropist and Community Development Associations (CDA), the entire E4 district would be wiped out by a massive flood and yet the state government never forgets to collect land use and other fees every year

However, credit must be given to Representative Babajimi Benson for some of the initiatives and Hon Adebisi Jokomba, Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA who built a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) complex in the community.

It is clear that both solutions saved APC after many years of poor performance.

For example, records show that a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly who represented the constituency for 16 years was a colossal disaster.” Correspondence with his office was never confirmed, much less opening channels of communication between him and the branch. Indeed, the APC and Governor Sanwo-Olu can thank Benson for the massive votes given to the party despite decades of neglect

Benson’s performance in Ikorodu has given many a glimmer of hope that the situation will improve in the E4 constituency even as explanations have been given to him and the state government on the matter. For this reason, over 40 CDAs under the aegis of the Joint Community Development Associations (JCDA) have risen to the challenge, devoting time and resources to updating it.

It started with a mass mobilization during the last voter registration, when Ward saw massive turnout in all centers. Realizing that Hon Benson and the State Government had promised to meet their needs, the E4 electorate turned out in unprecedented numbers way and the most votes were cast in the entire Ikorodu North LCDA.

The people, especially the CDA, were very happy because it was quite a feat and sent a signal that they were indeed a strong factor in Lagos and national politics. They were particularly delighted to have fulfilled part of the agreement made between them and Governor Sanwo-Olu, who promised to reward the huge number of votes in the context of the performance of the Labor Party (LP) in the presidential elections.

However, recent events are starting to worry residents over some of the actions of Governor Sanwo-Olu, whom they hold in high regard.

This is not related to the awarding of road projects in Ikorodu North, completely bypassing the E4 Ward that gave President Bola Tinubu and the governor spectacular victories. The major road projects that citizens expect from the state government, at least for now, are the Adamo-Araromi Road and the Maya-Ajegunle-Mojoda Road leading to the Ogun State border. It is very puzzling that districts that already have asphalt roads and which provided significantly fewer votes were included compared to district E4, which does not have a single asphalt road.

The people of the constituency believe that Governor Sanwo-Olu will right this wrong in the interest of justice, fairness and equality which he has sworn to uphold.

Adefulu, a media professional, lives in Lagos.