By Gboyega Amoboye
On the Voice of the People, FM Radio station on July 1, the guest of the 7.am Newspaper review said FESTAC TOWN was left by the government to decay because 90% of residents are from the SE/SS. I did not know why he decided to add the SS. When asked by the Presenter of the program Judeh Ikamijudeh that who were the Representatives of the town in the National and State Assembly respectively? He interrupted furiously that ‘the issue of representatives does not arise but national interest as residents irrespective of where they come from are Nigerians”. Unfortunately I cannot remember his full name because I never thought I would write a rejoinder. But he was introduced as a former Journalist with the Sun Newspaper.
Normally I do not comment on matters like this so that I would not be misunderstood by my friends and some other good people from the SE. However for the need to enlighten him and others who might be tempted to think likewise, I changed my policy.
If he says 90% of residents are from the SE/SS it means all the primary and secondary schools in FESTAC , the Mother and Child Hospital, The Primary Health Care Centre are staffed and all facilities patronised by 90% of the people from the SE/SS.
The town was purely planned as a residential town for 50’000 people with shopping centres provided in every community and open fields for recreation. But today the population has exploded to over one million because of the influx of the 90% of the people from SE/SS as pointed out by the radio analyst.
Consequently every space and walkways have been taken over by traders and beer palours just as other facilities have been overstretched. As if the black race has been cursed by heaven’s decree never to enjoy good environment, the buffer zone that shields FESTAC from insecurity and degradation has been demolished to provide more space for buying and selling while the virgin land, reserved for the town’s phase two development has been butchered for haphazard developments.
When I visited Ikorodu recently I was surprised to see roads that only okada could previously navigate, replaced with well constructed wide roads and solid drainages- Agric, Agbede, Igbogbo, Igbo Olomu, Selewu inclusive . When I congratulated my friend and host that Lagos State government had visited them, he said it was not the state government that did it but Hon Jimi Benson, their representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly who was equally doing charity or giving palliatives. When I asked the same question in Surulere , residents are quick to point at the ‘miracle worker’ and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who did not only bring their roads back to life but also went as far as providing water, street lights and even renovating and modernising private homes built in the 60-70s as a matter of good representation and humanity.
The question is who are the Senators and representatives of Amuwo Odofin where FESTAC is headquarters? What have they been doing as their constituency projects?
The question our commentator did not want to answer from Judeh is that most of the 90 % SE/SS residents of FESTAC town voted against the political party, APC in power in Lagos who provides and maintains the primary and secondary schools the hospital and primary health care that are serving them and their children to vote for Labour party identified with their kinsman Peter Obi.
Therefore their own constituency project choices does not include FESTAC Town where they live and enjoy government facilities. The relationship between the government and the people is that of rights and obligation. It is the right of the government to provide basic amenities for the people while in return the people are expected to vote for the government that is proving the good governance being enjoyed a a matter of encouragement. Only judiciary can afford to be blind, not democracy. Would they say the APC government in Lagos State does not deserve support for providing Education, Health Care, employment virtually at no extra cost for their families? Have they forgotten soon that former Governor Fasola constructed the link road from FESTAC to Okota Ajao Estate and Airport Road?
But what about Senators for the area who are from the APC? What have been happening to their constituency allowances where ordinary State of Assembly member, Benson is doing wonders in Ikorodu? I learnt some of them give some palliatives but is constuency project not meant to cater for specific needs of constituents in annual budget provisions?
The Amuwo Odofin local government too could not be absolved from blame. Residents are quick to remember the good work of the former chairman Comrade Ayodele Adewale but could not say the same thing about his successor, Eng. Valentine Buraimoh who incidentally was not only a friend of Ayodele but also his Director of works before the handover to him apparently to continue ‘, the good work’. Unfortunately like Wike and Fubara in Rivers, so also in Amuwo Odofin. In fairness to Valentine however, he built the new market also occupied by 90% of people from SE/SS, he built the well staffed and efficient medical centre and a modern administrative office nearing completion. Perhaps it could be a matter of priority or misplaced priority.
But why should Lagos State abandon FESTAC Town a unique and historic landmark not only in the state but also the country? God told Abraham that if there were 10 righteous people in Gomorrah, he would spare the city. Governor Sanwo-Olu, are people who voted for you in FESTAC not more than 10?
What about the owner of the Estate, the Federal Housing Authority? If Wike is doing wonders in Abuja why should the new Management of the FHA be dragging foot?
I read sometimes ago that on the completion of the town in 1977, the project consultant Eng. Coker said that “my only fear is who will maintain FESTAC?” He left behind an effective direct labour unit with heavy duty road maintenance equipment but all sold together with their expansive yard after the exit of Mr Fortune Ebie.. Indeed ‘Cry the beloved town’. May the soul of Mr. Fortune Ebie , the first and magical General Manager of the town rest in peace and forgive his successors.
Mr. Gboyega Amoboye, a journalist writes from FESTAC Town in Lagos.
