The recent publication in the Nation newspaper which generated a lot of political controversy on the returning tickets of all serving first term ACN local government chairmen and councillors in Lagos State indicated that the electoral victory belongs to the party despite the so-called opposition political party known as Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).The ACN has a political structure than its counterpart party which feels the local governments have not helped to alleviate poverty in recent times. Although PDP is not a strong political party in Lagos State, many feel the 20 local governments which constitutionally recognised by the Federal Government and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) formerly formed by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led administration are not really performing in terms of infrastructural development.The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission(LASIEC) will conduct election on October 22, 2011 into the 57 local governments in the state. But all the political permutations over the four years of these so-called local government chairmen in the state show that many did not perform well to satisfy the masses that voted them into power. Election is no longer by merit but by the party such a candidate is coming from. PDP has poor campaign structures in all the local governments in the state in spite of the fact that their posters are fine.Most of the ACN defectors to PDP show that some of the aggrieved persons do not want to serve their masters. Politics is all about service to humanity and nothing more. ACN is fully in charge of Lagos State. Even some political parties like ANPP have since merged with ACN which is the ruling party to win the coming election in the state. Some local government chairmen and councillors performed well in their various constituencies.Corruption in Nigeria is a national phenomenon which has eaten deep into the fabric of the society despite the various anti-corruption efforts of ICPC and EFCC to curb the menace.PDP has not worked assiduously to wrestle political power from the almighty ACN in Lagos State.Political rallies by the opposition party are not enough to capture Lagos State. Since all the party leaders in all the local governments have agreed to return all their candidates unopposed, then the PDP has failed without any divinity of soothsayers in the state.Even the sole attempt of the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) to take Lagos is still hanging in the balance. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has proved to Lagosians that ACN is a party to beat. Most of the PDP flag bearers are mere candidates who are only interested in election and later defect to their main party. Even some political analysts still describe on the ACN as a dictator's party but town hall meetings are being organised by independent bodies to ascertain the kind of leaders that intend to represent us in the state. ACN government is performing to some extent which the opposition cannot do if voted into power. Even political calumny is more pronounced in this part of the world.PDP has not indicated any iota of seriousness of winning the local government polls. Most of its candidates do not have the political will to contest. The election is violent-free when it comes to electoral campaigns and others.ACN has surpassed PDP in all ramifications. Again , Lagos State has experienced some political and economic changes over time.The party has put smiles on faces of Lagosians without any doubt. It has proved its critics wrong that their logo of sweeping bad eggs in politics is real. Tinubu is worthy to be celebrated in ACN. We want leaders that can put democracy dividends at the doorsteps of Nigerians not vibrated looters who feel government belongs to them. We also know that Lagos is a cosmopolitan city. Time has not come for the PDP to win in the state except certain people are no longer in politics. We must allow good politicians to run the local governments while the party select good candidates with integrity and intellectual mindsets to move the state forward. The state government alone cannot cannot do it except all the local government chairmen and councillors put their heads together now. Their second term should be for change not for massive looting of local government council funds.Democratic watchdogs are on alert.The state government must put its searchlight on local governments like, Ajeromi, Ifelodun,Ojo, Oriade, Mushin and others in order to ensure they serve the interests of the people in the state.
Click here to read full news..
