I arrived in Lagos last week in time for the celebration of Babatunde Fashola's 800 days in office. I am not quite sure what the significance of 800 days is, but the celebration is clearly inspired by, what seems to be, a widespread love for the governor of Lagos State as well as a reflection of the excellence of Fashola's publicity machine.Following Barak Obama's example, Fashola makes extensive use of electronic communication to show what he is doing and to make himself accessible. Fashola is in Facebook with almost 5000 friends and 31 groups for fans, supporters, those who want him to run for President in 2011 as well as those who claim him as Nigeria's own Barak Obama! I have even been given Fashola's mobile telephone number and encouraged to send him a text.
It will not surprise me if there is a celebration of 900 days in office or even 850 days such is the high esteem in which it seems Fashola is held and the fervor of Lagosians admiration for him! Apart from the celebration, which for me was a television event, Fashola is all over the media both television and newspapers. Frequently compared to the pale character that is the president of the federation, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who is rarely seen and rumoured to be suffering from kidney failure, Fashola's skin tone is a rich dark brown suggesting that he spends time out of doors and out of air conditioned cars taking in the Lagos sunshine that has been in hiding since my arrival. Unlike Yar'Adua Fashola is frequently seen out and about wearing the same high visibility vest or hard hat of his employees as he visits the numerous infrastructure projects his administration has initiated since he came to office. He is also seen on television a lot, often walking vigorously with an entourage of the people, he has employed to undertake these projects, trying to keep up with him as he goes about apparently inspecting the work he has asked them to do: clearing roads of trading that hampers the flow of traffic; constructing and rehabilitating roads, schools and markets; cleaning gutters and generally beautifying the environment; and being seen to be doing so. It is no wonder that Lagosians are in love with their governor. Fashola looks like a man who gets things done and who might just make this mega city work. And, it seems, is not just the middle classes that are in love with the governor.
Some may say that Fashola looks good because an elected official that turns up for work and does his job is not what Nigerians expect or are used to. The shameful behaviour of most politicians, including presidents, who spend their time gallivanting around the world asking others to sort out the problems of their communities, while they stay in luxury hotels eating fine foods, drinking fine wines and going shopping, makes a man who turns up to do the job he is elected and paid to do look like a saint. 'He is trying' is a common refrain from the Lagosians I have spoken to about him (family, friends and neighbours).
Even those who would not support Fashola at the elections in 2007 because he was a member of the ruling, so called, People's Democratic Party (PDP), have had to admit that he is getting things done in Lagos State and where there is disgruntlement, it is generally not aimed at Governor Fashola. 'It's because he does not know what some of his corrupt officials are doing' they say or, 'they have forged his signature'.
Although he is usually smiling in his publicity shots and when he waves to Lagosians from his car as he drives through Lagos, often, when he is out and about inspecting various projects, Fashola looks serious and thoughtful as if he is actually thinking not just enjoying being the centre of attention.
But this love for a governor is not unique in Lagos. Lagos probably has more than its fair share of the middle and upper classes of Nigeria and these groups are a critical and demanding population. It may be this which accounts for the fact that it is not unique for a Governor in Lagos State to be popular. Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande who was governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983 was also very popular. Could it be that it is these demanding citizens who insist that their leaders perform their duties and address their needs that produce these higher quality officials?
Even those who don't love living in Lagos, it seems, can't help loving Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN ).
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