Sanwo-Olu absent, as governorship candidates highlight plans for Lagos at debate

Three gubernatorial aspirants on Sunday highlighted their plans to move Lagos State in a public debate.

However, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is seeking re-election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the debate citing the involvement of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in political violence in the state.
Present at the debate organized by The Platform, a civil discussion initiative of the Covenant Christian Center, are Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labor Party, Abdul-Azeez Adediran of the PDP and Olufunso Doherty of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The debate which took place on Sunday at the Marriot Hotel, Lagos was moderated by broadcaster and communications strategist, Victor Oladokun, and lasted for two hours.

They have aspirants talk about issues ranging from insecurity, traffic congestion in the country, education, health to innovation.

Debate

While the candidates differed on their plans and methods, they publicly rejected political violence as the moderator cited incidents where APC and PDP supporters were allegedly violently disrupting their campaigns.

Mr. Sanwo-Olu has been pulled out of the debate, saying he will not “share the podium” with the PDP candidate after the attack in Surulere.

Speaking on the incident, Mr. Adediran blamed the APC candidate for playing the victim card, saying the ruling party has been “at the center of attack since the beginning of the campaign.”

“What happened two days ago is very unfortunate. I’m there to campaign and of course and I don’t think I’m going there to pick up the people I’m campaigning for. So for me and my supporters, we will have a peaceful election campaign,” he said.

To stem insecurity, Mr. Adediran said his government would put motor park leaders “on their toes” to ensure that they arrest perpetrators of violence in the country. He said he would introduce “community policing intelligencia” that would allow citizens to share information about attacks and other problems directly with the government.

On his part, Mr. Rhides-Vivour said “youth unemployment is a threat to the country and the unemployed mind is the devil’s workshop”, noting that the solution is to ensure young people acquire work skills, vocational, formal and digital tools.

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Also read: Governor Debate: “Sanwo-Olu will not share the podium” with Jandor – Official Lagos

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He said his government would provide a hotline that people could call when they are harassed and “we will be aggressive against violence to make sure we are not in a lawless country”.

ADC’s Mr Doherty said his government would prioritize the well-being of security agencies in the country “which are going rogue and acting in ways they shouldn’t.”

“We must ensure that the welfare of security agents is taken care of because if we deploy security agencies in our communities, and we do not take care of their welfare, it’s only a matter of time before you start to see them become predators in their own citizens,” he said.

Lagos is the second worst city to live in the world

Citing a 2022 intelligence report ranking Lagos as the second worst city to live in the world, the aspirants were asked to announce plans to reduce the impact of inadequate transport infrastructure on the mental and physical well-being of Lagosians and increase productivity.

LP’s Rhodes-Vivour said the basic foundation needed to move Lagos forward was to have a proper railway network system, saying that “we will deliver 60 kilometers of rail in four years as Lagos has only delivered 16 kilometers in 14 years”.

He added that another plan is to have a circular route linking all the eastern parts of Lagos.

“We will build the entire coastal line from Victoria Island to Ibeju Lekki, Ikorodu to Epe and connect it with a short bridge of no more than six kilometers, which is more efficient, than the third land bridge of the same type. We are trying to do it,” he said.

Agreeing with the LP candidate, Mr. Doherty said that the rail project is a welcome development that should be complemented by bringing the waterways to a multimodal transportation system, “which should be done and delivered in a short period of time.”

Mr. Adediran said the solution to the congestion on the Lekki Aja Tollway is to provide fly-overs at every intersection, adding that the country needs alternative routes that connect the place.

Speaking on the containers that killed pedestrians on Sunday in Ojuelegba, he said the state should restrict containers from moving during the day.

Education, children who do not go to school

On how to improve the quality and quantity of primary and secondary schools, Mr. Rhodes-Vivour said it would improve students’ work and vocational skills and also introduce after-school programs.

“Another thing that will be seen from education is that we have to start introducing digital technology in higher education, so that we don’t get left behind. It is very important that every primary school has access to computers and digital technology,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Adediran said he will partner with the 5000 private schools registered in the country to admit out-of-school children, and will also work with religious organizations to use the space during school hours for some children.

Doherty promised to “move the education system in a direction that engages and produces a skilled workforce and allows us to be an attractive destination for business.”

Other issues discussed by the candidates are addressing poverty, food insecurity, flooding, poor sanitation, and unemployment.