A motorcyclist popularly known as Okada man picked a passenger from Eleganza plaza in Apapa and was taking him to Barracks bus stop where id fraught with police men and women manning the junctions and controlling traffic and most time, pounce on okada men. For the fear not being caught by police men in order not to delay his movement, the passenger tried to caution the Okada man and the following conversation ensued.
Passenger: you better be watchful so that you don’t run into the hands of police men because I don’t want you to delay me o.
Okada man: (in his dialect-infested English) folice? No I no fit catch am for me pashola I don talk am me I no catch am for me again.
Passenger: wetin you dey talk? Make dem no catch you because say you be who?
Okada man: Not me alone oga. The government I don talk am make folice no catch am for okada again.
Passenger: when did that one start?
Okada man: Na this week o
Passenger: you don’t mean it!
Okada man: Na true I no dey fear folice again o.
Passenger: Hmmnn, I understand it is a strategy for 2015.
Okada man: wetin I dey talk?
Passenger: you may not understand. What I mean is that the government is using that as a bait to get your votes in the next election.
Okada man: (Still did not understand)
Passenger: who will you vote for in the next election?
Okada man: Pashola. I don try well well for okada to work again.
Passenger: Exactly what I mean!
Okada man: Oga, where I wan stop?
Passenger: stop for me anywhere here.Like the okada man, many others will be glad to see such policy reversal but can the antic work on all Lagosians?
The above conversation readily brings to recollection the recent reversal of the Lagos State University (LASU) tuition fee from the six digits to the N25, 000 it was but not without some resistance from the students.
The government of Lagos State might have taken a cue from the avalanche of unforgettable lesson taught to its counterpart in Ekiti State where the stringent policies of the incumbent Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi drew ire form the electorates and reflected same in their votes during the recent gubernatorial election in the state where the PDP defeated him.
The questions on the lips of event watchers is how easy will it be for the All Progressive Congress (APC) to worm itself into the hearts of the people of Lagos considering some policies that seem to be too harsh on the people to live by.
The only punitive measure that the electorates have against the Government is to vote the government or party out during elections. Much more so now that the social media is everywhere, it becomes almost impossible for any ballot box snatcher to have a field day.
Considering the fact that many people have been sent to the village due to what people refer to as anti-people policies, obnoxious activities of government agencies, unfriendly atmosphere created by the government towards the people.
The sixteen years of AD which later changed to ACN and now APC in Lagos, is a rule of mixed feelings for residents of the state as some laud the achievements of the party through the years and many others groan under same government. In some quarters, it is believed that the policies of the party are beneficial to the nobles only. This has made some especially in commercial buses discussions, call for exploration of other party candidates.
If the claim of the okada man is true, where do we place the earlier decision to ban them from the roads? What have they suddenly done right that warrants their being called back?
Anyway, the government must have its reasons for the sudden reversal of the policy but we are interested in knowing too.
Like the okada man, many others will be glad to see such policy reversal but can the antic work on all Lagosians?
The above conversation readily brings to recollection the recent reversal of the Lagos State University (LASU) tuition fee from the six digits to the N25, 000 it was but not without some resistance from the students.
The government of Lagos State might have taken a cue from the avalanche of unforgettable lesson taught to its counterpart in Ekiti State where the stringent policies of the incumbent Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi drew ire form the electorates and reflected same in their votes during the recent gubernatorial election in the state where the PDP defeated him.
The questions on the lips of event watchers is how easy will it be for the All Progressive Congress (APC) to worm itself into the hearts of the people of Lagos considering some policies that seem to be too harsh on the people to live by.
The only punitive measure that the electorates have against the Government is to vote the government or party out during elections. Much more so now that the social media is everywhere, it becomes almost impossible for any ballot box snatcher to have a field day.
Considering the fact that many people have been sent to the village due to what people refer to as anti-people policies, obnoxious activities of government agencies, unfriendly atmosphere created by the government towards the people.
We know there strategy….2015 will not work for then