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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections (3042 Views)
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Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ArabaONE: 5:29am On Jul 15, 2014 |
B y Femi Aribisala Just think how many votes can be harvested in Lagos by telling commuters an incoming PDP government will allow Okadas back on the roads. I did not know how precise my analyses of Bola Tinubu’s misfortunes are, until I saw the barrage of the Lilliputian army sent to attack me. In the last few days, I have been much-maligned and abused by a league of Tinubu’s henchmen. Lagos State cowboys have also descended on my office, asking for building permits when I am not building anything; demanding to know if my office is fire-proof, and threatening to close it down if I show no “satisfaction” within two days. I remain undaunted by these shenanigans. The bottom line is that I am not the one running for election in 2015: they are. Neither does it matter if I am the buffoon they claim I am. It is a contradiction in terms to spend so much time and effort trying to discredit a fool. If my views are truly inconsequential, those planning to run for office would not be so determined to silence me. Strange bed-fellows The irony in all this is that I actually consider myself to be more a friend of the APC than a foe. What I offer is wise counsel which, if seriously considered by the APC, would be detrimental to the PDP. There is no doubt that Nigeria deserves a strong opposition to the government. Unfortunately, that strong opposition cannot come from the foolishness of the APC. As presently constituted, the APC is a very good guarantee of another four years of the PDP, in spite of the ruling party’s many inadequacies. How else are we to explain why an incumbent APC governor lost to a PDP challenger by a landslide in Ekiti? Instead of harnessing its much-vaunted strength, the APC is showing new weaknesses, even in its South-West strongholds. Should it lose Osun in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in August, then Bola Tinubu is toast. Before it can qualify to reform the polity, the APC needs first to transform itself. Here is another attempt to show it the error of its ways, although there are signs it might already be too late for it to make amends in time for the forthcoming elections. The APC is an amalgamation of strange bedfellows with conflicting political agendas, all desperate for power at the centre. This explains why it even welcomes former PDP opponents. This marriage of convenience is likely to collapse sooner than later on the very altar of its internal contradictions, the nearer we get to the elections. In any case, bombast don’t create a formidable political party: popular grassroots support does. Many of the “timber and caliber” of the APC cannot even deliver their local governments. Their rants make for interesting newspaper headlines, while adding precious little to the electoral fortunes of their party. Those were the days when popular support counted for nothing in Nigerian elections. Those days are gone, as the recent election in Ekiti shows. For example, Rotimi Amaechi is very good public relations for the APC. But only a fool believes Rivers State is going to vote APC in 2015. Neither can Rochas Okorocha deliver Imo State to his new party. Demonising the electorate I am amused at people who make fun of Patience Jonathan’s down-to-earth style of public-speaking and have turned her “There is God O” into a derogatory slogan. What they fail to appreciate is that the First Lady’s homespun deliveries resonate with a constituency which accounts for the major part of the Nigerian population. Unlike Patience Jonathan, many of the APC bigwigs are out of touch with the electorate. They have been so blinded by their naked ambitions; they can no longer discern the signs of the times. This accounts for the big shocker of the Ekiti elections, which they are still trying to explain away with all kinds of rationalizations. Their contempt for the wishes of the people led to the current APC romance with the preposterous idea of a Muslim/ Muslim presidential ticket in this day and age. Therefore, if they are not careful, they are in for further surprises in “INEC 2015.” Instread of addressing what led to the disaster in Ekiti, the APC have resorted to abusing the electorate. Suddenly, we are made to understand that the people of Ekiti are stupid. They are derided as having voted for “stomach infrastructure” instead of physical infrastructure. In a release signed by Joe Igbokwe, the APC Publicity Secretary for Lagos State, the party declared: “It should be noted that PDP is now flaunting what is now known as ‘politics of stomach infrastructure’ which targets the borderless hunger it has provoked for fifteen years for exploitation.” “We want to assure the PDP that it is building castles in the air by hallucinating that it will ever capture Lagos by its politics of hunger and mass poverty.” This is nothing short of delusional. The tide of South- West politics is moving inexorably against the APC. By shouting from the rooftops about how bad things are in Nigeria, the APC seems to have forgotten that it is the one in power in the South-West. Therefore, if things are bad there, it is the APC, and not the PDP, that is held responsible. Accordingly, in Ekiti, the APC governor was thrown out in one of the freest and fairest elections ever conducted by INEC. Pounded-yam politics I have news for the APC. Its defeat in Ekiti is the strongest indication yet that the PDP has hit on a winning formula that might prove equally devastating to the APC in other areas of the South-West. Indeed, the APC government in Lagos is likely to be swept away by the same politics of “stomach infrastructure” that it derides to its cost in Ekiti. I am an unrepentant admirer of Babatunde Fashola and his seven-year tenure as governor of Lagos State. He has done a lot to change the face of Lagos for the better by renovating the physical infrastructures. But the Ekiti defeat has exposed the Achilles heel of the APC in their Lagos stronghold. In his seven years as governor, Fashola has been contemptuous of the electorate’s need for “stomach infrastructure.” While Fashola has been busy tarring roads, building fanciful tolled bridges and planting grass and flowers; he has ignored the need of the people for basic things of life like food, shelter and gainful employment. There is no pipe-borne water in much of Lagos; and yet the state generates over 27 billion in internal revenue every month. When asked why he did not build low-cost housing in Lagos, Fashola replied contemptuously that he could not find any low-cost cement to buy. Like Fayemi, Fashola speaks primarily for the rich. Under him, the poor in Lagos have been marginalized; oftentimes evicted from their homes without the benefit of rehabilitation. Their menial abodes in places like Mushin, Oluwole, Ojota, Makoko and Ijora-Badia East have been bulldozed. Their markets in Tejuoso, Yaba and Oshodi have been demolished. The new stalls that replaced them were priced beyond their pockets. Okadas have been banned from most areas of Lagos, denying many of their means of livelihood. Alternative means of transportation were not adequately provided, making it even more difficult for those who don’t have cars to move around. The poor residents of the Eti-osa, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government areas, now have to pay tolls going to and from the Lagos mainland. The people are well-aware that the road-concessions were to the financial benefit of the “godfather” of the APC. Task-force terrorists Street-trading, another means of livelihood for the common man, is also frowned at by the Lagos APC government. As the police chase okada riders down the streets, impounding and inheriting their bikes, so do the “kick against indiscipline” brigadiers confiscate and inherit the goods of hapless petty-traders. Different task force officials in Lagos derive pleasure in harassing and arresting people indiscriminately, often in order to extort bribes. All this has gone a long way in generating hatred for the government among the rank- and-file. In short, Fashola’s marauding brigadiers have become a terror to the people. They seem to be maliciously intent on squeezing the life out of the man- in-the-street. I have this theory about Fashola’s Lagos. If a Nigerian Bill Gates were to decide to give away free of charge 100 billion naira of food to poor Lagosians, he would be confronted with a whole army of Lagos State officials who would impede and hinder him at every turn. They would harass him for this permit and that permit. They would throw every possible bit of regulation at him. So much so that the man might get fed up and just cancel the project. In short, Fashola has run Lagos with disregard for “stomach infrastructure.” Despite being a beneficiary of free education himself, he hiked Lagos State University fees from N25,000 to N360,000. Protesting students descended on his office with cooking-pots and firewood. Even the well-to-do have not been spared from the state’s multiple tax burdens. Nevertheless, Lagos has the highest debt-profile of any state in the federation. The large community of Igbo Lagosians has also been alienated by the APC policy of deporting some poor Igbo back to their home-states in the dead of night. Time-up As a result, the bell tolls for the APC in Lagos. Just think how many votes can be harvested by telling commuters an incoming PDP government will allow okadas back on the roads. Or think how many votes the PDP can get by promising to revoke the hated toll- collection on the Lekki/Ajah expressway. If you add to all this the imminent implosion that is likely as Tinubu tries yet again to impose his own candidate as APC gubernatorial flag-bearer without the benefit of a democratic election, then the chances are high that APC might be dethroned in Lagos. The irony here is that while APC bigwigs are angling for two birds in the bush in Abuja in 2015, they are likely to lose their bird-in-hand in Lagos. Many Lagosians are increasingly fed up with the APC. After fifteen years of limited “stomach infrastructure,” Lagos is finally ripe for the plucking by the PDP. 21 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by GAZZUZZ(m): 6:06am On Jul 15, 2014 |
That was long........ Summary tell okada pdp will allow you work any where, tell lekki ajah people toll gate will be removed. APC is in real trouble a combination of angry students in lagos, angry okada ridders and tollgate users well who can know PDP might be lucky come 2015. anti people policies by fashola might just crumble the party 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by KriTic24A: 7:20am On Jul 15, 2014 |
I agree with you on this. The hatred everyone developed against the APC today is a direct reaction to the disdain Fashola has for the lowly ones in Lagos. The man have no respect for us, people who voted for him. Kind of arrogance... Go to your state? Isn't that insultive? After we voted him to power? Whether he liked it or not, his time will come to an end..... 8 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by koboko69: 7:40am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Petty garbage from an unintelligent paid agent. All i see is doro beef and blatant lies from an attention seeking buffon. PDP can only pluck lagos from APC in the room or wherever u sit to write your poo, or better still in your delusional dreams. 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by koboko69: 7:41am On Jul 15, 2014 |
GAZZUZZ: That was long........ Summary tell okada pdp will allow you work any where, tell lekki ajah people toll gate will be removed. Childish rants. If you are a fool, all Lagosians are not fools. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Firefire(m): 8:31am On Jul 15, 2014 |
APC! APC!! APC!!! The Handwriting is clearly on the walls... you can't claim to have the support of Lagosians 100% like it was in previous elections, coupled with the facts that your own house is defragmented. Only a change of policy, ideology, delivering of democratic dividends and clearer vision could probable change our hearts. I wish Nigeria well. 9 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by directimport: 8:41am On Jul 15, 2014 |
propaganda gabbage,then money,army,rigging,cunny man die,cunny man bury am |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by HisRoyalHardnes(m): 8:53am On Jul 15, 2014 |
GENERAL GOATLUCK CLUELESS JONA DAFT C-in-C ( conqueror in chief) of APC TILL '19 |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 8:58am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Bring back Okada Bring back potholes Bring back armed robbers Bring back refuse mountains of refuse Bring back empty hospitals Bring back teachers strike Bring back traffic Bring back abandoned vehicles Bring back broken down vehicles (for days) Bring back stagnant drains Bring back destitutes Bring back old oshodi Bring back old cms Bring back old obalende Bring back road side traders Bring back child hawkers Bring back poor teachers PDP BRING BACK MADNESS. 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by HisRoyalHardnes(m): 9:03am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Obiagelli: Bring back Okada The MASSES can't see your media propaganda. Bring back? Has PDP ever ruled Lagos? 12 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by portix: 9:14am On Jul 15, 2014 |
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Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 9:21am On Jul 15, 2014 |
HisRoyalHardnes:did gej rule nigeria before dragging us 10yrs backwards? 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Firefire(m): 9:26am On Jul 15, 2014 |
HisRoyalHardnes: Good question. 11 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by koboko69: 9:28am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Obiagelli: Perfect answer! 3 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by HisRoyalHardnes(m): 9:31am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Obiagelli:Topic says Lagos, propaganda brings in GEJ. DID Tinubu (THE OWNER OF APC)RULE LAGOS FOR 8YRS BEFORE FASHOLA? 9 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 9:43am On Jul 15, 2014 |
APC will "LIKELY"? LOL APC WILL LOOOSSSSEEEE LAGOS IJN, AMEN!!! 1 Like |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 9:46am On Jul 15, 2014 |
We are tired of Tinu-ole. We are tired of one family ruling Lagos like his personal property. We are Tired! [size=14pt]We are Tired!![/size] [size=20pt]WE ARE TIRED!!![/size] [size=15pt]PDP!!!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! IJN.[/size] 4 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 9:52am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Well I'm not partisan, but OP I gotta ask, why would you want okada back on Lagos highways. That's like wishing for Lagos to retrogress, rather than progress. 1 Like |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by byteem: 9:56am On Jul 15, 2014 |
CHOOSING BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.. APC . BEING THE DEVIL.. PDP . AS THE DEEP BLUE SEA. EITHER WAY ITS A ONE WAY TICKET TO HELL.. ITS JUST THAT ONE GETS U THERE FASTER.. FOR ME ID RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA , WHO KNOWS I COULD POSSIBLY GET A LIFE VEST AND SWIM FOR A WHILE BEFORE DROWNING .. POSSIBLY I COULD GET FIND AN ISLAND AND LIVE LARGE BEFORE THE CORRUPTION TSUNAMI SWEEPS ITS AWAY.... ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER RIGHT NOW . COS QUITE FRANKLY DINING WITH THE DEVIL FOR EIGHT YEARS AMIDST ALL HIS DECEIT AND CONCEITED BENEFITS HAS NOT YIELDED MUCH RESULT. HE TAKES WITH BOTH HANDS WHAT HE GIVES WITH ONE .. HE SMOOTHS TALKS HIS WAY WITH ARROGANCE AND IMPUNITY .AND WATCHES WHILE HIS LITTLE DEMONS TERRORIZE ALL SIMPLY WITH AN EXCUSE OF CREATING ORDER.... GIVE ME THE DEEP BLUE SEA .. WHO KNOWS MAYBE AFTER A WHILE IL MISS THE DEVIL AND WANT TO GET BACK ON HIS TABLE .. BUT FOR NOW PLEASE GIVE ME THE DEEP BLUE SEA ID LIKE TO TRY MY SWIMMING SKILLS LAGOSIANS DON'T LIKE PDP BUT THEY ARE TIRED OF APC. LAGOSIANS CAN BE COMPARED TO A WEARY WOMAN THAT NEEDS FREEDOM FROM AN ABUSIVE MAN. IF PDP WILL WIN THE HEARTS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE THEN THEY HAVE TO FIELD A CANDIDATE THAT HAS A VERY STRONG AND APPEALING PERSONALITY DEVOID OF THE CURRENT CONFUSED PDP. BUT ALAS WHERE DO WE FIND SUCH A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR.. 3 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 10:07am On Jul 15, 2014 |
UchihaMadara: Well I'm not partisan, but OP I gotta ask, why would you want okada back on Lagos highways. I am not for or against the Okada policy but my question to you is what exactly do you mean by retrogress and progress? This is Thialand This is India [img]https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuu67jYOD64XFMS6eIdTJwoVmmlvSgxnmI4pVQzY_RatJRLQd2[/img] This is Indonesia 1 Like |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:26am On Jul 15, 2014 |
HisRoyalHardnes:spare me your twisted logic, i gave example of what pdp government (States and fg) does best. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:27am On Jul 15, 2014 |
The APC would lose Lagos in a free and fair election, that is beyond doubt. You need to interact with the downtrodden masses to get a sense of the sheer disdain and animosity the grassroots feel for Fashola and his APC gang. Commuters, okada riders and passengers, taxi drivers, petty traders, artisans, etc. . .they all have nothing but tales of woe,.and can't wait to get rid of these exploitative and elitist bullies. Add the overwhelming Igbo population who have not forgotten the deportation saga and the 'go back to your village' insult, and you have a formidable voting force that would sweep the APC into oblivion in Lagos. The PDP hardly needs to campaign to win the election. I know that the APC would attempt to relax or suspend some of its unpopular and draconian policies in the months preceding the election, but I believe the masses would be too smart to swallow that bait. 8 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:28am On Jul 15, 2014 |
ola6: Thailand and India shouldn't really be our role models though, just saying! I have no problem if PDP says they want to do away with the toll on Ozumba, but with regards to bringing bikes back though, I believe they can proffer better, more elegant solutions. I wish for us to be competing, so to speak, with the likes of U.S, U.K, U.A.E, Italy, Canda.... not really India. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:28am On Jul 15, 2014 |
ola6:are those on the highway? Lasg government didn't ban Okada entirely but gave categories of bikes for different types of roads. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:29am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Obiagelli: Also true. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 10:40am On Jul 15, 2014 |
UchihaMadara: Each country has its own innovative solution that works best with its given population density. Okadas, yes, they are not elegant but hey, it reduces unemployment. Do you know how it feels to be done with University so as to ride okada and make ends meet? Yet, one man in Ikeja will just send his boys to seize them, just to resale them in neighboring states. YES, the seized okadas are re-sold to citizens of Ogun state and Oyo state. We masses are no fools. I believe PDP has a good and balanced policy concerning mass transportation. I will be attentive when they spell out their manifesto. 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 10:41am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Obiagelli: Madam, what does this look like to you? Inner street? 2 Likes |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:47am On Jul 15, 2014 |
ola6:High way? |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:50am On Jul 15, 2014 |
Long but not an insightful writeup. My Beef with LASG is its failure to construct the 4th Mainland Bridge that was promised in 1999 and 2003 by Senator Tinubu, and 2007/2011 by Gov Fashola to ease traffic in the city. Also, the issue of Multiple Taxation, Inadequate govt built Low Cost Housing Estates to address accommodation problem (Similar to what Lateef Jakande did). The Eko Atlantic City and fancy Bridge to me does not really have effect on the masses compared to the above listed. However, they provide means of livelihood. **As for KAI and Police Arresting Street traders and Okada Riders, It is an offence to street trade in Lagos State. Especially on the highway. It is not even safe for both the sellers and the buyers. They constitute traffic and also what happens when a Vehicle fail brake? Its better trading is done in Markets. there are many markets in Lagos that are relatively affordable to lagosians. As for Okada ban, I see it as a welcome development. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by Nobody: 10:53am On Jul 15, 2014 |
ola6: Wow, I wasn't aware that the seized bikes were sold, that's not cool. Even if they sold them because of some law, it would be nice if the money was returned to the bike owners. With that said though, I still believe the PDP should campaign with futuristic ideas, as opposed to ideas like bringing bikes back to the highways. They can extend the BRT scheme, have legitimate bus stops that show the routes of the BRT busses based on their numbers, they could even take that a step further by providing estimated arrival times. Also the PDP should at least try to convince us that they can progress with the Lagos rail faster than the APC. Regardless of Faholas flaws, I have always viewed the BRT scheme and Light rail system as commendable though not thorough enough. |
Re: Why APC Is Likely To Lose Lagos In The 2015 Elections by ola6: 11:00am On Jul 15, 2014 |
UchihaMadara: Where do you think ten of thousands of seized okadas go to? Fashola's backyard? LOL. Its RE-SOLD to generate money. Where this money goes to, I don't know. Whether to Tinubu or Fashola or Lastma. PDP knows they have to perform when they are in. Lagos state citizens are too enlightened for any nonsense. They must OUT-PERFORM Fashola to remain in Government after 2019. THEY MUST and THEY KNOW!!! Any thing short of that and Tinubu continues to rule. |
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