Emi Lo Kan I Be Honest?
Lagos is a lot like Gotham City. Lots of chaos and lots of progress, but most importantly there’s a Bat who appeared out of nowhere and claimed leadership. Not many people know who the Bat is, all they know is what he claims to be and what he does.
Here’s one key difference, unlike his fellow billionaire, Bruce Wayne (or his fans) never claimed to build Gotham. Apparently, it’s easier to claim to be principally responsible for one of the largest economies in Africa.
Let us examine these claims, shall we?
B.A.T of LAY-LAY-GOS
Tinubu became the governor of Lagos State in 1999, when Nigeria was just seeing the light of a fourth (and hopefully final) democratic government. After 8 years, the following are considered his most notable accomplishments:
- He started the BRT (bus rapid transit) service: This is one of the most affordable transport options for Lagosians, especially over long distances.
- Gave Lagos five more general hospitals and upgraded the Lagos State Teaching Hospital.
- He is the one RESPONSIBLE for Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who are generally considered to be more nuisance than help.
- Pregnant women, especially, enjoyed free and better healthcare.
- Transitioned a good many ‘area boys’ who terrorized markets into ‘responsible’ members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Frankly, this does sound like a ‘better Lagos’ if you’re fresh out of military dictatorship and cut off from federal endowments. What’s not to love? I don’t know, maybe the fact that these 8 years also caused the engineering of a chunks of an entire state’s revenue into one family’s pockets? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(If you like sarcasm, this might be a good time to hit subscribe)
“Emi Lokan!” Yes Sir, You’re the Problem.
Lagos is a city your nose smells before your eyes get their privilege. But what reeks even more is how no advert can marry a billboard on its island if homage is not paid to an account linked to a Tinubu.
Or smellier still how messy coincidences always seem to favour his interests. Add the never-accounted-for-income generated from Lagos tollgates to the mix, and we have ourselves an ogre’s perfume.
Anyone who lives in Lagos knows this man holds the entire state to ransom. It’s been his way or the highway (which he may have a stake in too) since 1999. But some Lagosians want to gather the entire country under Tinubu’s agbada. Misery really does love company.
Eh, But Did He Build Lagos?
Let’s answer this simply.
What makes Lagos, the ‘centre of excellence’ is how much commercial activity it houses. Lagos was a huge focus for commerce in colonial and then post-colonial Nigeria because of its ports.
Lagos was declared a British colony in 1862 because port control is juicy business. This colony later transitioned into the seat of political power and remained so until 1991. And if there’s anything southern Nigerians know, it’s that wherever there is an ‘oba’ (king) there is an ‘oja’ (market) closeby.
The political and economic development of Lagos rests on an accident of nature, and the whim of history. What Tinubu seemed to do was give an inch while covering the miles he was taking behind a smokescreen.
BUT THEN maybe those who say Tinubu built Lagos are talking about a different Lagos with different economic dynamics. The kind the light never touches so the public can see.
In the end, the difference between B.A.T and Batman is precisely why the Joker isn’t the hero of Gotham.
Or at least, that’s what I think.
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If Nigerian politics, among other things, gives you anxiety, you may want to read this next to help you calm down.
