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What is the idea behind your campaign slogan, “Has Your Life Really Changed?”

After the 2007
elections, I completely withdrew from the public eye and embarked on a
personal quest that entailed traversing the length and breadth of the
great state of Lagos. In July 2010, I decided to put together a team of
young professionals to help collate data, conduct research, and analyse
the effect of the government’s policies on the everyday Lagosians. This
gave rise to the idea of asking Lagosians the most novel of questions:
“Has Your Life Really Changed?”

Interestingly, we
observed that the responses by Lagosians were relatively similar,
by-and-large. On a superficial level, they felt that the administration
was performing well, as it had beautified some parts of Lagos,
integrated the BRT buses, and fixed a number of high-brow roads.

However, when we
asked for success stories in their individual lives and local
communities – stories of how the state government had equipped,
empowered and impacted families in ways that led them to be more
prosperous – our inquires only drew blank stares and general platitudes.

We finally decided
to open the debate up online (on my website www.hasyourlifechanged.com
and on my personal Facebook page). We also put up billboards and
posters all across Lagos to pursue a more aggressive strategy in
getting Lagosians to open up about the challenges they faced on a daily
basis by uploading pictures, videos, and comments about the positive
and negative effects the administration has had on their lives to the
website.

Astonishingly, my
campaign team has collated up to 17,500 responses from Lagosians online
and offline, and the overriding view is that there is room for
improvement.

What, specifically, are the shortcomings you have identified in this present administration?

The administration
has had very little impact on the lives of average Lagosians in the
overall context of development and in improving the living condition of
majority of the people. The critical element to rate this government on
is the state’s Human Development Index (HDI), which is unfortunately
low.

While the
government has rehabilitated some roads, beautified the environment,
and given the state the closest semblance to tranquility, law and
order, the more pertinent questions are: Has my quality of life
improved since this administration came in? Has this government
impacted positively on my life in the areas of poverty reduction,
decent housing and sanitation system, quality education for my
children, good roads in and around where I live or work, good health
care system, among others?

As the BBC
documentaries recently exposed, there is still wide-spread poverty.
Very few areas have clean public water supply. Sanitation and proper
drainage are still lacking; local inner network of roads are still
generally bad; many Lagos schools remain sub-standard; the public
health care system is totally inadequate, particularly in low income
areas, and the standard and quality of life continue to deteriorate.

You may put all
this in proper perspective when you consider that the present state
government earns an average of N14 billion naira per-month and in 32
months has earned over N450 billion. This is more than my
administration earned in its 96 months in office. The current
administration earned over N209 billion in IGR (Internally Generated
Revenue) in 2009 and budgeted over N420 billion for this year. In
addition, in barely three years, it has borrowed heavily from the bond
market and drawn down on loans from the World Bank and others. The
question is: Where is all the money? The taxpayers deserve to know how
the huge revenue is being spent.

What are you promising Lagosians if elected?

I believe I can
create a Lagos environment where the possibilities are endless and the
power of ideas and ideals supersede the ‘powers that be’. If I am
elected as the governor of Lagos in 2011, a new culture of transparency
and accountability to the people will become the order of the day.

Lagosians will not
have to worry about their governor mortgaging their future away to some
dictate in a back alley somewhere. I will set up a website called the
Pedrometer (which) will give Lagosians the opportunity to track the
implementation of every single campaign promise I make, and to rate
whether or not a promised policy has been implemented.

There will also be
monthly publications of how every kobo of government money is expended.
This will eliminate the current culture of secrecy-shrouded spending in
its entirety.

Which sector of the electorate are you especially hoping to capture?

Although Lagos is
cosmopolitan and diverse, it is also interconnected. The middle-aged
teacher in Alimosho is invariably affected by the working conditions of
the market women in Tejuosho, and the statewide doctors’ strike
negatively affected the young LASU graduate from Epetedo. I think it is
difficult to focus on one particular group of voters without neglecting
another sector, so the most important thing is to have a consistent
message that can resonate with everyone.

What is your definition of a credible leader?

First and foremost,
a credible leader must have the legitimate mandate of the people, which
invariably means his emergence as a leader must be the end-product of
credible elections. Beyond this, I think a credible leader is one who
is willing to accept responsibility for his shortcomings and who
inspires people to be the best they can possibly be.

A credible leader
is one who submits himself to being held accountable for every single
proclamation or promise he makes. Honesty, integrity and humility are
some of the qualities of a credible leader in my opinion.

You were once in
AC, then Labour Party, and now PDP. Don’t you see yourself as a
politician who is more interested in power rather than building a
credible party base?

It is impossible to
live in isolation from other politicians, especially when many of you
share the same vision for a greater Lagos. After my debacle with AC,
the PDP welcomed me with open arms. There is no question that the
perception of the party may not be the greatest in the world, but I can
tell you, hand on heart, that there are many within the party who are
totally committed to a thriving and prosperous Lagos. This is what
informed my decision to join ranks with the party, and I have no
regrets whatsoever.

Unfortunately, our
politics has not matured to the point where parties are defined
ideologically. At the moment, our politicians (at all levels) are
either pro-current administration or anti-current administration. It is
as simple as that. There is enough blame to go around for this problem,
but I firmly believe that it starts and stops with our leaders being
held accountable by the electorate for the promises they make.

If you fail to capture the primaries in PDP, do we see you moving to another party?

I have been a
card-carrying member of the PDP for about three years. The party
welcomed me with open arms and has treated me cordially. I have no
reason to pitch my tent elsewhere, and I am committed to contributing
my little quota to the growth of the party in Lagos State, the south
west, and beyond.

Notwithstanding, I
am confident and hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to
represent this great party as its governorship candidate in the
upcoming general elections.

If you once again fail to capture the governorship seat in 2011, will you recontest in 2015?

After the last
elections in 2007, I honestly did not see myself running in 2011. Our
politics is very unpredictable and throws a lot of curveballs at you,
so I cannot look beyond the current elections. I will present my
manifesto and vision for a greater Lagos to the people, and I have no
doubt in my mind that our state will be better off for the debate I
will engage them in over the next few months.

How close are you to former president Olusegun Obasanjo?

I have a great
relationship with Olusegun Obasanjo. Unfortunately, the former
president does not get enough credit for his wisdom, foresight, and
honesty. He has been very supportive of my ambition, and he is
considered a father-figure by quite a number of people – politicians
and non-politicians alike.

Who has/have been your mentor(s) in life, especially politics?

Politically, I have
always admired the courage, vision, and integrity of the likes of the
late Awolowo, Enahoro, and Tafawa Balewa. Their contributions to a
united Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised. I continue to nourish and
mentor myself with their writings, speeches, and opines because many of
the ideals they propagated in the 40s, 50s, and 60s are still relevant
in our quest for the attainment of a more prosperous and united Nigeria
today.

I am also a big fan
of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama because they represented change
agents in times of political uncertainty. They challenged all
stereotypes about their electability and impressively won against all
odds.