society
AMBODE: A TESTIMONIAL
By Yemi Ajayi
Before the advent of the Fashola administration, driving through Oshodi, which I had to do to get to my office then at Fatai Atere Way, was one of the most harrowing experiences I had to go through five days a week.
The two alternative routes to my office, passing through Ikorodu Road to connect Ilupeju By-pass or through the Airport Road to link up Ladipo via Five Star, were to say the least equally unattractive. The traffic on those alternative routes was as hellish as that of Oshodi.
Then, one Sunday after the first New Year of having Fashola as governor, I drove through Oshodi on my way to work and my “flabber was gasted.”
The orderly chaos that was the defining persona of Oshodi was totally absent. I was confronted with a new Oshodi devoid of its characteristic heavy human and vehicular traffic. There were phalanxes of policemen here and there to prevent a breach of the peace after a dawn demolition of illegal structures that also provided habitats for criminals who tormented motorists and passers-by.
That singular act marked the beginning of my romance with Fashola. I became his implacable supporter. He had by restoring order to Oshodi not only reduced my commuting time from home to work, my daily fuel consumption dropped by as much as 55%.
In a nation devoid of a standard metric for measuring performance of public office holders, it also set for me a template in assessing leaders.
It is in that light I’m viewing the ongoing crisis of succession in Lagos State being championed by those trying to deny Fashola’s successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the conventional right of first refusal.
Many reasons have been pushed into the public space on why Ambode must give way to Jide Sanwo-Olu, the favourite pick of Tinubu’s political machinery, the Mandate Group, and they range from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Unfortunately, none of the reasons I’ve come across so far has much to do with majority of Lagosians on whose votes Ambode is in office.
As someone who has lived in Lagos for almost 40 years, I can say that Ambode has added to the building blocks of the foundation laid by his predecessors. Lagos to me is better now in terms of infrastructure and service delivery in some areas than it was before.
The governor has wormed his ways into my heart, and those of millions of others, with the construction of inner road network especially within the Ifako-Ijaiye Alimosho corridor.
Within my Alakuko neighbourhood, there are at least nine ongoing inner road projects. Some of them are in areas where the residents had lost hope of ever feeling government’s presence.
He has made interventions in other areas such as tackling Lagos perennial traffic congestion through the construction of laybys, flyovers and pedestrian bridges.
I can’t forget my first day of driving through Ojodu-Berger in a bid to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It was a detour I had to grudgingly make as that route is one I avoid like a plague for its notorious traffic.
But on this day, I had to take my chances as all alternative routes to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Agidingbi to connect Otedola Underpass were choked with traffic.
Surprisingly, the Ojodu-Berger axis was not only uncharacteristically free from traffic, I could’ve missed my way due to the changed landscape that followed the reconstruction of the area. The reconstruction had not only led to the removal of all traffic impediments, but saw to the expansion of the road.
There is no doubt that while Ambode had done well in the area of infrastructure, his performance has been average in other areas, especially in refuse disposal. Many residents are also not happy with his administration with the hike in Land Use charges.
However, as a property owner, I can say that the hike in the Land Use charges isn’t as hurtful as it was made to be, especially after the governor bowed to public outcry and ordered a review.
Although what I paid as Land Use charges is now far higher than what I had been paying in the last eight years, I don’t need to rob a bank or take a loan to pay up.
But his performance notwithstanding, there has been an intense campaign to ensure he doesn’t return in an election that is his to lose.
The governor has been accused of not deserving a second term for not servicing the greed of APC leaders in the state, among others.
But in all this, where stands the interest of the electorate who put in Ambode in office and whose welfare is the purpose of governance?
Unfortunately, the electorate are being railroaded to rally behind his main challenger for the post, Jide Sanwo-Olu.
Certainly the APC leaders are pursuing a selfish agenda which they’re deceitfully dressing as a push for better life for Lagosians.
For what it’s worth, Ambode might not have done well in all areas of governance, but he has performed well enough to earn a second term in office.
Those who’re pushing the argument that he should go and test his popularity at the party’s direct primary are being disingenuous in their advocacy. The direct primary, abinitio, has been rigged for him to lose.
That argument would have had any veneer of credibility if all other elective posts had been thrown opened for contest.
So far, I’m not aware that Senators Remi Tinubu and Adeola (Yayi) have any serious challengers for their tickets. That is so because the party establishment has decreed it be.
If it’s sauce for the senators and others, it should be sauce for Ambode.
There is no doubt that the political fortune of Ambode and President Muhammadu Buhari are tied together, which is the more reason why good reasoning should prevail in this matter. More worrisome to me is the economic impact of this needless impasse when all of us know that instability in Lagos would have spiral effects on the national economy.
It’s therefore morally and political expedient to allow the governor finish the good work he has been doing.
Ajayi, a journalist, writes from Lagos
Workers as the Backbone of a Nation: Nigeria’s Labour Force Must Lead the Rescue Mission
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“All great nations are built by workers who do their best for themselves and the country.” These compelling words by Otunba Dr. Segun Showunmi remind us of a timeless truth: no nation rises above the dedication, sweat and courage of its workers. As Nigeria commemorates Workers’ Day, it is not enough to chant praises or post hollow tributes online. The Nigerian worker must now awaken to a more pressing, revolutionary responsibility, to be the moral and political vanguard in rescuing a country teetering on the brink of collapse.
For decades, Nigerian workers have toiled under unimaginable economic pressures, living from paycheck to paycheck, many without dignity, fair wages, or basic social security. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), once potent forces of resistance against tyranny and injustice, have become shadows of their former selves and crippled by political compromise, internal corruption and systemic intimidation. It is time for a rebirth.
Nigeria: A Country in Reverse Gear
Nigeria, once touted as the “Giant of Africa,” has become a failed promise. Despite having the largest economy in Africa by GDP size, over 133 million Nigerians are classified as multi-dimensionally poor (National Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Unemployment stands at 33.3%, and inflation continues to crush the purchasing power of an already overburdened citizenry. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000 (about $20 monthly) is not only a moral embarrassment, but a statistical absurdity in the face of skyrocketing fuel, electricity, food, rent and healthcare costs.
The recent calls for a ₦70,000 minimum wage by labour unions have been largely ignored by over 20 state governments, despite the Nigerian Constitution’s directive on equitable welfare. Workers are being enslaved in their own country while politicians feast.
Yet, in the face of this adversity, Nigerian workers must remember: they are not powerless. They are the makers of nations. They are the unseen hands that build cities, schools, roads and factories. They are the intellectuals, the civil servants, the farmers, the teachers, the doctors, the engineers. They are more than voters, they are a force of transformation.
Labour Must Become a Political Weapon
To rescue Nigeria, the working class must reawaken their political consciousness. The time has come for Nigerian labour to evolve beyond protests and strikes into full electoral participation. Workers must become the builders not only of infrastructure but of democracy itself. They must demand policies, shape leadership and hold power accountable.
Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary Burkinabè leader who transformed Burkina Faso in four short years, famously said: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness… the courage to turn your back on the old formulas.” Nigerian workers must embrace such boldness. Voting every four years and returning to silence is no longer sufficient. A deliberate, organized movement of workers must be forged to disrupt the current cycle of kleptocracy and mediocrity.
Workers as Nation Builders: Historical Truths
History offers proof that great nations were built by empowered labour. In the United States, the New Deal reforms of the 1930s, which rescued America from the Great Depression, were largely driven by union pressure and workers’ demands. In South Africa, COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) was pivotal in fighting apartheid alongside the ANC. In Ghana, the Trades Union Congress played a key role in resisting colonial rule.
What about Nigeria? Our own past glows with examples: the nationwide strikes led by Michael Imoudu in the 1940s energized the nationalist movement. Pa Hassan Sunmonu and Adams Oshiomhole were once symbols of principled resistance. Sadly, today’s labour leadership, rather than mobilize for systemic change, often appears co-opted by the same ruling elites that perpetuate oppression.
The Struggle of Our Heroes Past Must Not Be in Vain
The Nigerian national anthem reminds us: “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.” But what do we make of that line in a country where pensions are unpaid, workers are retrenched for unionism and salaries are swallowed by inflation? If we are to honor our heroes, then we must finish the battle they began.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, the slain Niger Delta environmental activist, once said: “The Nigerian nation is at war with its people.” Today, that war continues, not with guns and tanks, but with poverty, corruption and misgovernance. Nigerian workers are under siege. It is time to fight back, not with violence, but with unity, organisation and bold political engagement.
As Amílcar Cabral of Guinea-Bissau asserted, “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.” Nigeria’s problems are rooted in a corrupt elite who have hijacked every arm of governance; executive, legislative and even labour. The fight for a new Nigeria will be hard, but it is a fight worth waging.
Reclaiming the Soul of Nigeria through Workers’ Power
Imagine if every teacher refused to teach until state governments invested 25% of their budgets into education. Imagine if all health workers grounded the hospitals until every Nigerian had access to basic healthcare. Imagine if the NLC and TUC backed credible worker-friendly candidates and mobilized 20 million votes in the 2027 elections. Imagine if we had a working-class party, not as a fringe movement, but as a national force built from the ground up.
The 2023 elections showed that a hunger for change exists among Nigerians. Yet, the political establishment manipulated the process with impunity. The working class must therefore not only vote but guard their vote, mobilize their communities and demand electronic transparency and judicial accountability.
What Must Be Done?
Revamp Labour Leadership: Current union leaders must be held accountable. The rank-and-file should demand transparency and replace docile leaders with visionary fighters.
Form a Worker-Centric Political Front: A credible, pan-Nigerian platform must emerge from the working class. Not another ethnically hijacked party, but one with ideology, focus and inclusivity.
Invest in Civic Education: Workers must understand their rights, the Constitution and how policy affects them. Knowledge is power.
Support Economic Sovereignty: Workers must pressure the government to invest in local production, revive industries and end dependence on imported goods.
Resist Divide-and-Rule Tactics: Ethnic and religious differences must not be used to weaken worker unity. The oppressor thrives on division.
In the Words of Giants
To conclude, let us borrow from the wisdom of Nelson Mandela: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity; it is an act of justice.” Nigerian workers must now pursue that justice, not beg for it. Martin Luther King Jr. once declared: “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” Let the Nigerian labour movement rise again, this time not just as a protest group, but as a nation-saving force.
Happy Workers’ Day to all Nigerian workers, may your courage light the path to a new Nigeria.
Otunba Fola Temitayo Ogunmefun Celebrates Birthday in Grand Style
… A Shining Example of a Life Dedicated to Philanthropy
The name Otunba Fola Temitayo Ogunmefun, CEO of Urban Arcade and Resort, is synonymous with generosity, inspiring countless individuals within his community, jurisdictions, and worldwide through his selfless devotion
It is only fitting that we recognize his tireless efforts and sacrifices in promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. Today, the 1st of May 2025, I am delighted to join family, friends, and associates of Otunba Fola Temitayo Ogunmefun in extending our warmest greetings and goodwill from the community and his state on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.
However, I wish to extol him once again as an astute professional businessman who has remained consistent in pursuing true heritage, culture, pride, and an ideal society. Those who are well-acquainted with him or close to him would understand the significance of the birthday celebration I organized for him this morning. Though he deserves more, considering my tight schedule, I made it a point to arrange something meaningful for him.
It’s my prayer that Almighty God continue to bless you with robust health, profound wisdom, and a long, fulfilling life. Warmest wishes to you on your birthday, Sir!
Sunday Adeyemi serves as publisher and editor-in-chief of Society Herald magazine/online and is a prolific article writer based in Lagos.
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