Governance – Re-Invented: The Ambodian Style
Dapo Thomas
There is a touristy frenzy in Lagos that is palpable. Governance is being re-invented. The Ambodian government is in a class of its own. It is a government of hi-tech creativity: A government that operates with common-sense and uncommon ingenuity. It is a government that encapsulates democracy and its attendant dividends. I am enthralled by the massive facilities and infrastructure at the disposal of the citizens of the state who seem overwhelmed with the evident and rapid development that is becoming the hallmark of the Ambodian administration. Every government that has ruled and reigned in Lagos State since its creation in 1967 had played its part in the development process of the State. Such development had been unleashed with determination and driven by political goals. Such tendency for development in the past provoked zeal, promoted passion and genuinely ignited the inspiration for competition by successive administrations. The difference, however, is that the Ambode’s kind of development symbolizes its own finality and peculiarity. It is what you can call “development ti o nsoro” meaning “development that speaks for itself”.
In less than two years, this man called Akinwunmi Ambode has lifted governance from its sleepy crawling condition to a level that excites and fascinates. When you look at the amount of energy and passion that drive this government, you will marvel at the trinity of ideas that characterizes the government. From the political leadership led by the governor himself you see the commitment and vision that form the philosophy of the government. From the bureaucracy and the civil service, you see the enthusiasm and will that galvanize and stimulate the ideation that is the bedrock of the government. From the professionals and contractors who humanize and accentuate the political and bureaucratic ideas, you see the aggression and the honesty to move and deliver projects and programmes as conceptualized. In all facets of life, this government has shown that modern governance (pardon my qualification if it is hyperbolic) is scaffolded on frameworks that define the design and character of governments. These days, vision alone is not sufficient to drive ideas. These days, determination alone is incapable of guaranteeing achievements. These days, energy alone is not able to generate the dynamic for movement. What drives a government in contemporary politics is the combination of all these attributes. What can vision do if there is no passion? What can determination do if there is no energy? The novel thing about the Ambodian government is that it has been able to raise governance to a higher pedestal by stringing every relevant and useful exemplar and archtype into a model and template that will be complex to replicate and demystified. The Ambodian administration is an embodiment of all that is good about a government of the people.
In so many areas where government is supposed to touch lives, the government has been responsive. In critical sectors where government is supposed to lift lives, the government has been pro-active. Take agriculture for instance, the government ab initio, placed much value on the quality of life of an average citizen. Realizing that nothing defines quality life better than food security and food sufficiency, the government took the initiative to partner with the Kebbi government in the production of the Lake rice which competed conveniently and proudly with imported rice (whether plastic or glass rice). There must be something in the Lake rice that was special considering the long queues that were formed at the selling points. This was about the first time that a government in the state thought of a synergy with another state government for the purpose of creating a sensation that would serve as an inspiration for other states in agricultural production.
In the health sector, the Ambodian government is shifting focus to the Primary Health Care (PHCs). The logic is that the PHCs are nearer the grassroots. Once the massive populations at the grassroots are managed by the PHCs, the pilgrims flocking to the General Hospitals with litany of ailments will reduce. Hence, all the PHCs are undergoing comprehensive renovation to make them attractive and conducive for the patrons. Before now, emphasis and attention was on LASUTH and the general hospitals. Most of these hospitals have the best technology and facilities you can ever think of.
But this time around, the swagger is in favour of the PHCs which in the past seemed to have suffered critical neglect until this resurrection and resurgence. The face-lift is a motivation for the personnel whose morale was at the lowest ebb because of “historic” frustration.
In the area of security, the strategy for combating and reducing crime to its lowest level has been reconfigured. Unlike in the past when checkpoints were a narrative for crime ubiquity, today, the Ambodian government has placed premium on intelligence-gathering and pro-active operations. Police vehicles dot every flashpoint corner with policemen on amber alert in case of emergency situations.
–– (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)