Agbaje, Ambode Lurk Horns in Battle for Lagos State

But for pundits, the race is between candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Joseph Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje. The fate of these candidates however hangs on so many factors – popularity, credentials, manifesto,  party structure, incumbency factor which includes record of performance and the party each of the candidates represent.

Ambode(51), candidate of the APC was born  14th of June,1963 at Epe General Hospital, Epe, Lagos State. Had his primary school education at St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute Meta, Lagos.  He passed the National Common Entrance in Primary 5 and gained admission into Federal Government College, Warri. He is said to have recorded second best result in the entire West Africa in the Higher School Certificate Examinations in the Social Sciences in 1981.

Ambode graduated with honours in Accounting from the University of Lagos at 21 and was employed in the Lagos State Waste Disposal Board (now LAWMA) as Accountant Grade II in November 1985.  Two years later, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed his Master Degree programme in Accounting from University of Lagos, specializing in Financial Management.

He worked in the local government service for 10 years and was at various times council treasurer in Alimosho, Shomolu, Mushin and Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Councils.  In 1998, he was awarded the US Fullbright Scholarship for the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship program, in Boston University, Massachusetts, USA on Public Leadership with emphasis on Finance and Accounting.

He was appointed acting Auditor-General for Local Government in 2000 and became the youngest Auditor-General for Local Government in Lagos State.  He was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance in January 2005 and in February, 2006, was bestowed with additional responsibility of Accountant-General of Lagos State.

A believer in human welfare,  Ambode  ensured payment of staff salaries before the end of the month, and introduced end of the year package and special/specific welfare schemes for staff. He also launched the e-payment platform for the monthly staff salaries

His other achievements include leading audit teams to clear and publish the arrears of statutory audits of 1995 to 2004 within 12 months.

He is an alumnus of Wharton Business School. He also attended courses at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England; the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland; INSEAD, Singapore and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

He is said to have retired voluntarily from public service in August, 2012 and established Brandsmiths Consulting Limited in 2012 which currently consults for Federal, State and Local Governments on the transition to the new International Public Service Accounting System and other financial advisory services. He prides himself as a stickler for high performance and his decisions never based on race, gender or religion.

Agbaje(57), the PDP candidate on the other hand was born March 2, 1957. He attended St. Gregory College, Obalende, Lagos before proceeding to University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A pharmacist by training, Agbaje calls himself  a scion of the  Onilegbale Chieftancy family of Lagos and Lasuwon family in Ikorodu, Lagos and was raised up from a humble background.

A veteran pharmacist, Agbaje has practiced his trade for over 3 decades.

He served in many health management capacities in his early years as a pharmacist in Lagos State and was Managing Director of Jaykay Pharmaceutical & Chemical Company Ltd, which is responsible for production and distribution  of pharmaceutical products across the country.

He is a Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN); Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm); Merit Award Winner (MAW), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State).

Agbaje has also held various professional appointments which include National Chairman, Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (1990 – 1993), Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State) 1994 – 1997, Chairman,  1994 National Conference Planning committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of  Nigeria, National Secretary Nigerian Association of General Practice (1987-1990).

The PDP governorship candidate has participated in various International programs including the Executive Management Program at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg & Cape Town Business School, South Africa; World Health Organization training course on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in the Pharmaceutical sector and UNICEF Oral Rehydration Therapy program (train the trainer course).

He is a member, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, national chairman, Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacist (NAGPP); Chairman, Lagos State Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Committee Member of Lagos State Task Force on Fake & Adulterated Drugs; member, National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List; member, Lagos State Hospital Management Board.

He has also presented papers on  Counterfeit Problem & It’s impact on public Health; a Nigerian Perspective at F.I.P (Federation Internationale de Pharmacie) at Hague,Netherlands; Effective National Health Insurance Policy in Nigeria; the Pharmacists role in community development; Change Management for Pharmacists; Promoting Society’s Health Through Health Economics – The Role of The  Pharmacist.

Agbaje has a retinue of honours. They include Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (F.P.S.N); Fellowship of West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacy (FPC Pharm);Fellowship of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and an awardee of Officer  Order of The Niger (OON).

To date, he is a board member Vigeo Holdings Ltd; Oakwood Park Ltd; Premier Music; Vice Chairman, Atlantic Hall School, Epe; Faculty Member, African Centre of Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD).

Others include membership, Trustee, Nigerian Infection Control Association (NICA); Member of Patron Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) Archdioceses of Lagos and founder, Jimi Agbaje Outreach (Project dedicated to helping the less fortunate step on the first rung of the ladder of development).

No doubt, both candidates hold enviable record in their area of specialization. Ambode has a track record of performance in public service which has endeared him to public servants in Lagos State. By his past records, he appears to be very brilliant, a feat he has failed to match with public eloquence.  This analyst believe might just be one of his undoing since most electorates are often swayed by public display of oratory.

Agbaje on the other hand lacked experience in public service and is obviously out of touch with the reality of public service and the Lagos State workers. Political experts have seen this as a minus on his part. But he is seen from a far as a lovely and charismatic leader.   Standing out in his manifesto is the desire to create Lagos for all and free governance from outside influence.

“ We will also ensure that within these four years all our children attend and stay in school. They will achieve skills and knowledge driven by current and future needs and demands of industry and the economy. If our Lagos is to continue to attract and retain investment, it cannot continue to be the 137th worst place to live in out of 140 cities ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“Our Lagos cannot be comfortable knowing that about 70% of our people live in slums and unsuitable neighbourhoods. We envision a Lagos State where decent, affordable housing is available. We will ensure that our programme to upgrade slum areas brings succour to our people in the shortest possible time”, he said.

Ambode however hopes to use Lagos Employment Trust Fund (LETF) to access a minimum of N1 billion Naira annually for entrepreneurial ventures across the state’s five divisions of Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe.

“We will protect the growth of small and medium scale enterprises by providing tax incentives. We will implement government policies that will encourage the private sector to employ more citizens and foster economic development. We will boost internally generated revenue by improving the collection mechanism through e-governance.

“We will encourage the creation of a Corporate Social Responsibility Trust Fund (CSR-TF) by the Private Sector, to be managed by a Board of Trustees charged with the responsibility of identifying growth opportunities yearly and financing such opportunities to further boost economic development across sectors and communities in the State.”

“In addition, our government will embark on the acquisition of the latest advanced security communications technology that will attack and monitor the daily activities of the State,” he said.

Ambode said his housing plans would include collaboration with the private sector to improve the state’s current policy of home ownership through Lagos HOMS and provide ownership options, such as Rent-to-Own-Program (R.O.P) as well as recreational facilities to encourage investors to invest more in tourism infrastructure. The manifestoes however seem impressive, but the votes might be determined by factors outside the manifestoes.

But virtue of incumbency Ambode should have the day,  having secured financial and moral support from the sitting governor, Babatunde Fashola. Besides, the incumbent governor has a track record of performance.   Experts also point to structures which the party has  in all the 20 local governments and 37 local council development area.   Recent efforts to woo the embittered civil servants and Community Development Associations in Lagos State could also work in the favour of Ambode as well as massive support from the Hausa community in Lagos. Some also point to the likelihood of bandwagon effect since the APC has already won at the federal level.

But some policies of the Lagos State Government on management of traffic through the Lagos State Traffic management Authority(LASTMA) which has imposed what pundits describe as unloving fines on residents is seen a  negative factor against Ambode.

Some experts also allude to the Lagos State Home Ownership Scheme (LAGOSHOMS), which they believe is more expensive than similar properties sold by private companies. For this group of forecasters, the purpose of government is welfare and not to make profit. This, policy they believe could also work against the candidate of Ambode.

The Tinubu factor has also been seen to play both positive and negative impact on the election of Ambode. Specialists believe that his philanthropic nature will go a long way in the bid to elect Ambode. But there are some that say that his policy of imposition may also work against Ambode as a result of those who have fallen out with him after APC primaries.

Besides,  pundits argue that residents are already tired of Tinubu who has over the years established himself as the sole person to determine the next governor of Lagos State.  His alleged  ownership of Alpha Beta Consulting which collects 15 percent now scaled down to 10 percent and his primitive quest for acquisition of government properties is seen as another factor.

Some have also penciled down utterance of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who has threatened Igbo in Lagos to vote Ambode or die enmass in Lagos Lagoon. This threat specialists believe could boomerang on the election bid of Ambode.

As for Agbaje, pundits are quick to argue that he appears to be an independent candidate that could unveil the mystery of revenue generated in Lagos State which has been put at N20 billion monthly.

For this group of analysts, Ambode remains the clean break between Godfather which Ambode represents and the masses who are yearning for change and a Lagos that will create opportunity for all and Lagos where funds generated locally will be invested in the local economy.  But some are quick to allude to his link with Chief Olabode George  whom many say introduced him to President Goodluck Jonathan. For this group, his link with George would also work against his interest.

However, the support of Igbo which Agbaje enjoys could also sway the largest vote in his favour. He also enjoys support of incumbency which could be an added advantage.  But in reality, any of the two candidates stand the chance of emerging the next governor of Lagos. But who that will be only the electorate will decide on Saturday.

Contributed by Emmanuel Ukudolo