SANWO-OLU IS HERE, SANITY IS BACK

SANWO-OLU IS HERE, SANITY IS BACK

If I say I'm impressed with certain decisions that have been made by the duo of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Femi Hamzat; I'm no doubt saying the obvious since their inauguration on May 29, 2019.

While it may be too early to appraise their performance, but my people always say: omo toba ma se amodun, eyin kise la ti mo (a child would grow to see the next year, can be discerned from his heel).

Apologies if I didn't interpret the prpverbs lucidly. The truth is this new Government has began on a good footings by mapping out clear cut of action for itself.

The Executive Order on Traffic Management and Environment management is just too apt at this time in Lagos. Apart from the proclamation, the steps that have been taken by the Governor to back it up like the arrest of the commercial bus driver driving against traffic, visitation to Olusosun Dumpsite and Apapa gridlock are equally signs of good omen from a government who means business.

Unlike their counterparts, who are either gallivanting about or trying to play revenge mission cards by trying to undo their predecessors projects like we witnessed in Imo State (though the sitting Gov has denied it); the duo are taken the bull by the horns.

It's our prayers and wish therefore that the team keep and sustain the tempo.

More importantly, I would want the Gov and his deputy to return the usual MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION EXERCISE for the following reasons:

1. It will ensure a better clean and beautiful Lagos since everyone would normally clean their environment within this period.

2. It will also help to ease the stress of Lagosians, many Lagosians work from Monday to Sunday without rest, the three hours of sanitation provides a sort of compulsory rest for the people in these categories. Thus, it can help to promote a better healthy lifestyle among Lagosians.

3. Family Reunion: many spouses hardly have time for themselves, let alone their kids due to the hustling and bustling of Lagos, by returning the monthly three hours sanitation exercise, members of the family will be able to spend the time together thereby helping to promote a more conjugal relationship in the homes.

4. IGR boosting: while the programme no doubt isn't designed to serve as money generating Programme, the truth is, there will always be law breakers who have to pay for their follies, so by returning the exercise, local government authorities will generate fund for their purse that can be further used for development purpose.

The argument that the economy should not be shut down for three hours for economic purpose therefore becomes unjustifiable by the benefits adduced above.

Similarly, those who are laying claim to their fundamental human right of freedom of movement based on subsisting court judgement should also know that the greater good of the society supersede any private good. If I'm the Governor, I will revisit the judgement and call for a review in light of the reality in our city today. This is because in democracy, minority must have their say, while majority have their ways. 

James Adekola is a writer, analyst and Legislative Aide at the Lagos State House of Assembly.