Emmanuel Ukudolo
Nigeria, May 24, 2016 – For the second time in six months, President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to honour request by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to commission projects in Lagos State.
The first was Friday, November 27, 2015 just few months after the governor ascended the throne and armed robbery was on the rise, forcing the governor to do the unusual by coughing out N4.7 billion to procure equipment for the Lagos State crime fighting outfit, Rapid Response Squad(RRS), part of the Lagos State Police Command.
Items procured by the Lagos State Government on that occasion include 3 combat-ready helicopters with a capacity to land on water, fly day and night and chase after robbers, gun boats, vehicles, motorbikes and kits. The occasion also afforded the Lagos State Governor opportunity to rebrand the RRS.
But President Buhari chose not to honour the invitation. He was represented then by Minister for interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Danbazau.
May 23, 2016 was another day that many thought that the President could have compensated the governor for failing to honour the November invitation. The impression that the president would make the visit was so strong that the whole of Lagos was adorned with photographs of the President and the Governor on one hand and the friendly disposition that seems to exist between the governor and the President. Governor Ambode had visited the Presidential Villa on a number of occasions to personally meet with the President.
But how wrong he was! Ambode must have been devastated when Spokesman of the President, Mr. Femi Adesina rolled out a terse statement that the President would not be making the trip for problem having to do with tight schedule even when the proposed visit was a product of careful planning between the office of the President and the governor. However, it was Vice President Yemi Osibanjo that had to represent the President this time around.
But again, the task of the President in Lagos would not have been too different from his expected role in the aborted November visit. He was expected to also commission security equipment for the Nigeria Police, emergency services and flag-off Ago Palace Way, a road that was encumbered by court processes in the past administration and be hosted to a dinner with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 in attendance.
But what could have forced the President to renege on his promises? Some have proffered reasons. Could it be the rumoured ban of Fulani herdsmen from grazing in open fields in Lagos State? Could it be the flamboyant arrangement put in place to receive him? Could it be envy that the Governor is commissioning so many projects in Lagos, all accomplished in a year whereas he has nothing to show for his stewardship in a year? Could it be that he sees the projects earmarked for him to commission as demeaning for his person as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
So many questions! However, residents of Lagos are watching to see how President Buhari will compensate Lagosians for their votes, and atone for the sin he committed when he unilaterally and by military fiat cancelled the Lagos Metroline project conceptualized by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande-led government for no just cause.
There are rumours that he hopes to make it to Lagos during the Ramadan, but that will be on a private visit. But whatever happens, Lagosians are watching.
