Other governors should emulate Fashola

I got the shock of my life when a motor dealer asked me if I knew the best and easiest way he could pay his tax. Not long afterwards, I learnt about an association that was so happy with the performance of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), such that members are willing to be pay their taxes regularly without the prompting of the authorities concerned.

A few days ago, I was a member of a panel on Channels television that reviewed the two years administration of Governor Fashola in Lagos State. At the end of the programme, all the panelists rated the governor above avarage.

It’s a general belief not only by Lagosians but by most Nigerians who have had cause to visit Lagos recently that Fashola has really turned things around in the state. Even the opposition have come to agree that Lagos is, indeed, moving close to being a megacity.

It could be recalled that this former chief of staff to Governor Tinubu was not given any chance at the inception of his administration. A school of thought believed he was too young and inexperienced to sit at the helm of affairs in a state like Lagos.Those who rejected him initially are now singing his praises.

The truth is, Fashola has performed in all sectors. In the area of transportation, other countries are now coming to Lagos to learn about the BRT. In sports, beyond making the Teslim Balogun stadium a pride to the nation, he went ahead to acquire an air ambulance indicating the state’s readiness to host the world. Realising the importance of sports, he has invested in efforts at discovering sports talents at the grassroot level.

With regards to road maintenance,he has shown that what is obtainable in the developed world can be seen around here. He went as far as beautifying the roads with flowers and functional street lights. He knows that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation and so brought about a highly dependable waste disposal system for every nook and cranny of the state. And that is the way it is in every other sector.

What is the governor’s secret? What differentiates him from others? Where did he get the money for these projects? Did Lagos State win a jackpot with which the governor has used to transform the city? What gives the governor so much confidence and determination to carry out these feats? So many questions begging for answers.

The answer is simple: Fashola is thinking. He was thinking when he chose his team. He is thinking about the answers he will give to his children. He is thinking about what the opposition will say if he fails. He is thinking about posterity. He is thinking about the generality of the masses, above all, he is thinking about the state being a mega city.

Uju Onyechere,
Lagos.

No to paying of ransom to kidnappers

I wish to comment on the issue of payment of ransom to kidnappers. It is disheartening that after the Abak Local Government chairman of Akwa Ibom State paid millions of Naira to the abductors of his 23-year-old daughter, they still went ahead to kill her. This means that the payment of ransom does not guarantee the safety of the victim.

I believe that paying ransom to kidnappers is a kind of encouragment for them to continue with their evil act.

The new Police Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Walter Rugbere, has also condemned the payment of ransom and urged families of kidnapped persons to desist from doing so.

It is hoped that both the government and citizens would heed to this wise counsel.
My advice is that, more hands should be on deck towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Barnabas Osuanlele,
198 Ikpoba Road,
Benin City, Edo State.
barnabasosuanlele@yahoo.com