The Future is not engraved in stone, so goes a saying. So uncertain, you begin to wonder why people place so much hope on it. The future is an adventure. So many unknowns.
However, many people feel the future of Lagos is certain and engraved in stone. etched in the annals as a city that has seen the last of her golden era. "A has been" trying to be relevant. Lagos, our uncertain future.
Since May, I have noticed so much hushed rumors about the man who is likely to take over for Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola as Governor of Lagos State. His posters are already circulating and Facebook pages popping up left and right (as at the writing of this, I have seen 5), all vying and campaigning for him; many of them not because they know the substance he is made of but because the incumbent governor has given a non-verbal blessing.
The question still boils down to why? Why him? With so many candidates with far more credible political credentials. Men and women who are core politicians with strong political ties both from birth, upbringing and political association and alliance. Well, I can think of many ways to answer that question but I would rather take an x-ray look at the person of none other than the person of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
There is a saying that when your destiny is being discussed, you are never there. This is a saying strongly attached to Governor Fashola. Word has it that when Tinubu's second term was at its end, he sought for a befitting candidate and somehow, all those who came out as gubernatorial candidates were just not up to par with what he wanted. He didn't want a talker but wanted a worker. They lot of them fell short.
However, he decided to limit his criteria based on performance, dedication and integrity and just one man of the many candidates, a man who was first in the office and last to leave. He had his head on the going on of the administration and nothing passed him by. He was a de-tribalized Nigerian, a man if you searched for dirt in his background, you will find something, putting in mind that "nothing" can be something.
Lagosians shouted with their usual uproar of questions: Who is he? Who are his people? What are his political acumen? So much was said until he was elected, after just 100 days in office, Lagosians saw that this rather quiet yet assertive man was fast performing. The first 4 years was a blur with so much done and yet to be done. The Slogan Eko o ni baje was on everyone's lips. Our parks were being restored, roads being developed with a new means of transportation, sanity on our roads with new legislation which some found offensive but after a while Lagosians adjusted. Demolition of buildings and illegal structures and once again Lagosians shouted until he demolished a part of his father's house and again, Lagosians kept quiet.
We can go ahead and say all there is to say but Lagosians know that anyone coming to rule Lagos must be ready to do better than Governor Fashola. In this case, we can come to a hypothetical conclusion - If it took a man who is relatively unknown to bring back Lagos to her former days of glory, it is only fair we give another quiet yet hardworking individual who remembers Lagos of yesteryear and desires that it should not return, not just to her old glory but beyond what we can imagine.
Who is this man? This man spoken of yet speaks so little. Praised yet so unassuming. Applauded yet not carried away. Lauded yet feels there is yet so much to do.
He is no other than Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
