SYNONYMS

Contracts are big deals in Nigeria, especially the government approved ones, because it favours both sides- the Contractor and the Contracted.

- The Contractor

This is the body giving out the contract for bidders to submit proposals to get the contract; they are the highest earners. They make the budget allocated for the contract and the actual amount used for execution to look alike. They are good mathematicians.

- The Contracted

The receiving body. They are the executioners, whom after the hustle and bustle of preparing a fine convincing proposal receives the contract. They are medium earners. Each contract gets them elated because it paves way for more contracts. They are smart people.

It is not good to visit the past- people, happenings or things, because I believe in the “forward ever backward never” slogan of my Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu. But, in this case, we have to go backward before we thrust forward.

Lagos State is known to be an independent economy in Nigeria; its rapid development has drawn laudable commendation from so many people, of which all acknowledgements go to Babatunde Raji Fashola(BRF), the former Lagos State Governor. These developments include roads, power and energy, health care and other amenities.

The 11th hour always poses a threat caused either by you or haters of your progress; this is Governor Fashola’s situation.


It was alledged that the former Governor of Lagos State, used seventy-eight million naira (N78m) and one-hundred and thirty-nine million naira (N139m) out of the budget allocated to the State to build a website and to drill two boreholes respectively. Let me start with the website- tundefashola.com, Fashola is a digital man. Men like him can speed the rate of digital advancement in the country if given the presidential position come 2019. Let me explain-

-The site amongst other features contains an online video chat feature, to discuss with the ex-governor. Nigerians need anything that will give them a clear view of the government. It would serve as a transparent mechanism for the citizens to defend the government if criticised by foreigners.

-Past, present and future projects detailed to the last are available for visitors to read and appreciate his works. This is a great amount of transparency. Nigerians in diaspora and home base citizens that don’t reside in Lagos won't be left out, as they would also see pictures and appreciate his efforts.

What bothers me, Lagosians and other Nigerians is the amount allocated among the past projects for building the website. Seventy-eight million naira (N78m). Lets observe seventy eight seconds of silence. According to Info Access Plus, the company which built and upgraded the website, gave a financial statement that the amount collected for the services rendered was ten million naira (N10m) which implies that sixty eight million naira (N68m) is left or is tagged as “extra expenditure.” The website was built by expert designers and I figured that it wouldn’t have amounted more than twenty million (20m). It means that that 68 million has been used to build websites in their pockets and stomachs.

Why would a website meant for the state bear a private name? Although, the site is meant to serve as a medium to show his stewardship to his state, I think it is suppose to carry a general URL so he can handover to Governor Akinwumi Ambode one day to enable the Governor to also display his own stewardship which is in progress. The URL tundefashola.com makes me to think that the name Lagos and Tunde Fashola are similar either in meaning, phonetic sound or history. The Governor must have thought it over before approving the URL. Fashola is a wise man; it takes a wise man to do wise things like equating your name to the state’s name.

Boreholes are long lasting, very expensive to drill and maintain. I believe the money was well spent.

The present Lagos government should try to reconcile some things as part of their year’s project-

1. 78, 68 and 10 million naira should be carefully calculated and the balance should be used to appreciate the citizens. Airtime vouchers should be sent to frequent visitors of the site, humanitarian services should be appreciated from the website’s balance.

2. Historians should be employed to look into the history and relationship between the name Lagos and Tunde Fashola, as it would serve as a determinant to why such permission was granted.

I hope this website serves its purpose and the boreholes pump fresh water. Peace.