Very often, those who criticize Lagos State claim that the megacity’s rapid growth is due to the state’s high population density and high level of tax revenue.
They contend that this has the inevitable result of allowing anyone, regardless of skill or aptitude for leadership, to rule Lagos state.
Not only does this kind of thinking go against common sense, but it also runs against to every rule of leadership and corporate governance that has ever existed.
Recent times have seen the promotion of similar ideas in one way or another by the supporters of political novices Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor, and Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour, who are affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party, respectively.
These opinions are all phony political rhetoric designed to discredit Lagosians’ ability to choose their representatives with absolute clarity.
The actual coup de maître was Lagosians’ selection of progressive, seasoned, and qualified leaders like Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode, and the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to statistics and recorded history, no city grows simply because a large number of people happen to congregate in one location. In fact, in the lack of effective leadership, a large population like the one we have in Lagos State might be a significant disadvantage.
This is due to the high stress that unchecked, explosive population expansion places on social infrastructure, which could lead to the overcrowding of healthcare systems, deterioration of public schools, and a lack of housing, water supply, sanitation, power, roads, etc.
If faced with a tenth of the immense demographic issues Lagos State has encountered, whether or not there are revenues, many states and possibly entire nations would collapse under the strain.
Notwithstanding the fact that there is power in numbers, Lagos continues to host and provide for its residents’ health, safety, and general well-being even though they are not subject to taxes. It is absolutely untrue to think that each and every resident and visitor of Lagos makes a financial contribution to Lagos State.
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Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that, until 2016, PDP states like Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, etc., rather than Lagos State, were considered to be oil producers. Iran makes very little money from oil.
Despite significant earnings from oil, many traditional oil states cannot claim of a comparable infrastructure development. Certainly the kind Lagos State is known for. If Lagos had that significant an advantage, one can only speculate about the expectations that would be placed on her.
So, pointing to the revenues produced in Lagos State without first considering the vast amount of labour required to build and maintain them is a lazy man’s analysis. Revenue growth has only accelerated due to her executives’ relentless pursuit of excellence, vision, and a smart economic strategy.
In conclusion, Lagos’ success has been attributed to its leaders’ “can do” attitude and lack of fear. They have conceded that this city, which is home to over 25 million people and is the fifth-largest economy in Africa, is not a state of mediocrity and should not be governed as such. It is also one of the most desirable travel destinations in the world.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the nation’s first democratic governor, comes to mind. In 1999, he first saw Lagos at a pitiful Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) of 600 million Naira per month.
In addition, he had to deal with Olusegun Obasanjo’s brutal and vengeful PDP-led federal administration. Obasanjo, who presided over the new administration for eight years, purposefully withheld money from Lagos for many years.
Tinubu had to plan like a sovereign state since he was the only governor to withstand the political tsunami that the then-ruling party orchestrated.
He established a technocratic enclave within the state bureaucracy, which helped to professionalize the administration of business tax collection and bring both the formal and informal sectors into the tax net. He did this with the support of enough state political backing.
Not only did Lagos State overcome this difficult time, but the government also built roads, paid for her employees’ salaries, provided public healthcare, and sponsored the education of her children. All of this was accomplished using revenue from the state.
In fact, the federal government and many states have adopted Tinubu’s tax mobilization formula and other measures in their efforts to restructure the state and national economies.
Luckily, none of Tinubu’s successors have sat back and let their previous boss enjoy his achievements. They have moved forward to increase Lagos’ largess, from Babajide Fashola to Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
These leaders, particularly the present governor, continue to make Lagos the go-to location for unrivaled economic prospects, human development, and the destination to generate wealth through their outstanding leadership abilities and policies.
So, no. Lagos’ accomplishments are not a coincidence. Any narrative that portrays us as careless, global citizens must be rejected.
Lagos State’s magic wane is leadership. Because we have consistently chosen the greatest candidates, her true supporters cannot afford to be dissuaded off their course by a vote for an unproven mediocre. Elect Sanwo-Olu.
