THE VOYAGE TO LAGOS: FASHOLA IS WORKING, LAGOS IS SINKING

Before I even get crucified by the behemoth of Governor Fasholas fans let me explain and not try to aggrandize myself I only borrowed the header from the campaign slogan;Fashola is Working,;lagos is working to reflect the present day-rainy season reality.
Lagos state is one of the few states that still gives Nigerians hope. The megacity has been a source of interest for multilateral agencies and foreign governments considering her enormous potentials in driving development in Nigeria and the sub-saharan part of the African continent.
I however must confess that Governor Babatunde Fashola has tried to live it up for Lagosians and the development community, the only fear I have is if all along the efforts made by the governor in the area of infrastructure have not turned out to be counter-productive. Everyone familiar with this month of June in Lagos can bear witness that the rains have hit hard, with flooding in places like Alimosho, where flooding carried a girl who slipped in Igando-Ikotun local council area. Areas like Iyana-Ipaja, Aboru, Abesan Estate, Ikeja and Lekki-Ajah have also had their fair share.
I am forced to be biased about Lekki-Ajah which I would be particular about in this text. The reasons are not farfetched.Lekki-Ajah hold enormous potentials in terms of investment of funds by local investors their foreign counterparts.Lekki-Ajah was also part of the high points of governor Fasholas campaign where he highlighted that the government would embark on a sea-port and an airport. These drew thunderous ovations by hands and words of mouth.
As germane as it should be it is obvious that conditions that guarantee seamless operations to achieve the maximum potential of these initiatives have not been put in place.Firstly, the Lekki-Ajah expressway seemed to have arrived at a quasi-coma. This is either because the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has not been able to access funds since the work slowed down since the subtle protest of residents of Lekki over taxes scheduled to be collected during the election period. Here administrative efficiency was subjugated for political responsiveness.Secondly; the drainage in Lekki is either non-existent or the poorest in any mega-city. Come to think of it that road is supposed to cost 50 billion naira! The floods have been very enormous, especially in areas like Jakande, Alpha beach road, Igbo-Efon etc many businesses have been at a loss and potential ones would have been warded off. This might even discourage foreign investors if they consider the fact that there is no adequate flood emergency mechanism in Lagos State. Private residences in Lekki get full to the brim with people having to move out for months. It’s beginning to seem that Lekki is a dry season business district, the rainy season is not friendly to business as workers and businesses have a lot to contend with. Something should be done in due time and maybe Hi-Tech is not just up to the task ,they should consult Julius Berger on the latest technologies that the former employed in Akwa-Ibom to control water.
Finally, I make a case for other parts of Lagos like Alimosho,Ikorodu,Abesan etc.The government has greatly neglected these areas all in the guise of addressing infrastructure issues in the areas that are the” Faces of Lagos”-Victoria Island,Ikoyi,Lekki etc. This is injustice as these areas pay Land use charge and all other forms of taxes. Is it that the people living there are second class citizens or can just be deprived of their rights to adequate infrastructure by an unwritten law? The ruling party even gets most of their votes from this areas. Well,I believe there is room for change. The CAN should cut the propaganda and get to real work. They should stop victimising PDP and stop giving Lagosians band-aids.Lagosians should not be made to fund any political party, we demand real infrastructural development and not band aids! I want to import an alibi for Governor Fashola in that he might be lacking in political savvy but he has defied all odds in the past. He has gotten our mandate for another four years. He should increase his momentum in the Lagos he sees and that which we all see-A city of the world’s dreams!

PARABLE OF CANDLES

PARABLE OF CANDLES

Your company determines your growth intellectually or materially. When the issue of company is raised, many are quick to think of the receiving side, the truth is that when you give, you stand a chance of receiving endlessly. But you can’t give what you don’t have .This sounds confusing, doesn’t it? The parable of candles explains the reactions and logic of the candles.

This parable tags different people with the following sizes and forms of candles: Short, Tall, Big and Small. It is important at this point to state that a candle is not a candle without light. An explanation of the different candles and the light phenomenon goes thus:

SHORT: This represents mediocrity. Most people perform creditably well in some spheres they find themselves but they never reach the heights they are supposed to. This most times is attributed to the fact that they are not in the right profession. It is either they are in the wrong profession or they are not following some principles in this parable.

TALL: This represents success; they reach the peak of their careers. They follow the principles of the candle.

BIG: This is one a precursors of the short and tall candles.

Big represent expansion, geometric growth, mentorship and worldwide acclaim.

Small explains stagnancy, inconsistency and greed.

The number of people you mentor determines your sustenance ultimately. Those you lift would help when you are on your way down. The larger the number of people you help, the larger your positive network. With this, you can be sure of being a step higher than your contemporaries that don’t do the same.

If you fail to mentor people, if you have the habit of pulling people down, one day you would fall and that fall better not be worse than that’s of humpty-dumpty.This guarantees a negative network or no network at all.

The high point of the candle parable would be deficient without explaining the light phenomenon. Imagine a dark room, only one candle has light and others don’t. One day that candle would go off whether by melting since it is the only one at work or a swift wind blows, this spells danger as a dark room would give room for turmoil and possible destruction of existing candles. It is important to light the candle of others so that you can put off yours and use theirs and to ensure light would always be around.

Watch out for more on the parable of candles; it has been the wonder of the ages and its supply of knowledge is endless.

umpty.

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

Everything is judged by its appearance anything unseen counts for nothing.