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The Tinubu/Ogunlewe face-off
For some time now, the Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, have been locked in a bitter feud. The bone of contention between Tinubu and Ogunlewe, both of whom are distinguished Lagosians, is which of the governments, federal or state, should control traffic flow on federal highways in Lagos State.
Conscious of its responsibility to Lagos residents, the Lagos State Government established the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), whose mandate is to ease the frustrating traffic snarl in Lagos. The Tinubu administration also established the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade to ensure that citizens keep to the state�s environmental sanitation edict. Within the short time of their existence, these agencies have justified their establishment.
LASTMA officials are visible on Lagos roads, directing traffic, removing broken down vehicles and apprehending traffic offenders. The effect has been a drastic reduction in the number of man-hours wasted on the road. Likewise, through the activities of the KAI brigade, many Lagosians are now conscious of the need to keep their environment clean. If the truth must be told, therefore, the positive impact of these agencies is really being felt all over the state.
Ogunlewe�s grouse with these agencies, however, is that their activities should be restricted to Lagos State�s roads alone. In a letter to the Inspector General of Police, the Minister prayed the Police to dismantle LASTMA and KAI agencies from federal highways in the state. Citing the Federal Highways Act (CAP 135 laws of the federation 1990), Ogunlewe insists that the Act confers on him the responsibility of making traffic regulations concerning federal highways.
The minister has also kicked against the Federal Highways beautification project embarked upon by the Lagos State Government. Lagos, on its part, is insisting that the minister is misinterpreting the law, citing a recent Supreme Court decision, which held that urban and regional planning is on the Residual List in the 1999 Constitution, and therefore, gave the prerogative of legislating on issues relating to it to the states and local governments.
The disagreement between these two public officers, if not quickly resolved, has the potential of throwing Lagos State into turmoil. Already, there are visible danger signals. Mayhem was unleashed on Lagos roads recently, when Federal and Lagos State Government officials clashed violently on federal roads. This situation is unacceptable. It should stop.
The bickering is already slowing down development efforts. The state, for instance, is about losing a $100m World Bank-financed Urban Transport Project. Briefing the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently, the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, lamented that the Minister of Works was frustrating the implementation of a part of the project, which required the Lagos State Government to take over some roads, including federal roads in the state.
To be sure, Chief Ogunlewe has been quite effective as a minister. He knows his brief, and his commitment to putting federal roads in good shape deserves commendation. However, he should not negatively invoke the law in the discharge of his duties. The development of the state should be put before politics. Ordinary Nigerians can hardly distinguish between federal, state, and local government roads. What matters to them is that the roads are in good shape. Generally speaking, the public is more concerned about government�s ability to perform its responsibility of providing social infrastructure.
Therefore, the governor and the minister should sheathe their swords and work in the interest of the people. The undercurrent of intrigues and political rivalry between the two prominent sons of Lagos should not be allowed to lead to a breakdown of law and order. Both of them should work in harmony to improve the people�s quality of life. Their roles in government should be complimentary, not antagonistic.
The PUNCH, Thursday, July 1, 2004.
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