AGBAJE ON THE FAST LANE: GOVERNING A LOCAL COUNCIL LIKE A STATE

A SPECIAL KUDOS TO THE EXCELLENCE OF A MEDIA TEAM AND CAUSE TO ENCOURAGE A GOOD START IN SOCIAL REENGINEERING

From the Editor's Desk

You can't just stop marvelling at his style of governance -- pushing frontiers of his performances like a governor would govern a state. Each day evolves with new developmental stride and always with clear ideas of the originating concept behind the intended policy. To be concise about his days in office so far, it is evident that Hon Lukmon Abiodun Agbaje came prepared for the functions of Executive Chairman of Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

No wonder he governs his 7-Ward Council size like a geographical state. It is how a giant idea cannot be enough for a local community in this era of global movement on the fast lane of demands for elevation in standard of living for mankind. Whatever or whoever must have caused him to lose election in 2021 is today a vindication of the disservice done to the residents of Ayobo/Ipaja in evidence in that wise. Were he to be running his second term today, the Council could be knocking at the door of Eldorado for a manifest uniqueness from its peers of six divisions of Alimosho.

Saying all this is not necessarily about the infrastructure development by which he set the pace for others with his early launching of seven roads in need of swift intervention for fair commuting of the people. It is also neither about tangible actions he has taken on sector by sector impact of governance like interventions in education, Agriculture and health. It is about the rare and often neglected aspect of governance. It is the unseen but vital purpose of a government around which the inherent peace of the community is built. And by it, the true worth and depth of a leadership's capacity as a rallying point is evaluated and measured. It is the capacity of a leader to scale up the coalition of his people around his course of governance. This is done through strategic communications with the right speech at the right time, especially at times of national events and a time for hosting a community's memorabilia always celebrated as a festival. It is deemed so important to much that every state and national government have offices specially designated for speech writing and it is almost taken that a speech writer may earn more than the Chief Justice of a state -- at least to the extent of a comparison a Chief Justice of Nigeria once made.

For those who know it so, "the purpose of a leadership speech is to inform, persuade, and inspire a people by conveying a clear vision, addressing challenges, boosting morale, and building trust and confidence within a human ecosystem. Through strategic communication, a leader can unite people around a shared purpose, demonstrate competence and credibility, and motivate followers to take action and achieve collective goals".

Given this fact, it may be conclusive that only a government of grassroots with innate leadership quality would think it enough to use the occasion of national history to give his locals a source of inspiring ethos for socialisation of unity norms. In a manner of sort, this was another ingredient of governance Civics Weekly would find to be Agbaje's uniqueness yet among his peers. So far in his strides, he has used two good national events to demonstrate this innate leadership quality in him. The first was at the Independent Day -- October 1st. The second was his speech at the Teacher's Day just a couple of days past.

For the Independent Day speech, "We", he so started "today join the rest of our great nation in celebrating Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary; a day that stands as a symbol of our strength, resilience, and unity as a people".

In pundit's evaluation, the use of collective term was significant of a leader telling his people that they belong to the same realm in the issue at stake - way of equality of all at the time. Going further, he used the occasion to raise the consciousness of his people to the historical value of the day. "It is a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of our founding fathers and heroes past, whose courage and unwavering commitment paved the way for the freedom we now enjoy", he said.

Especially to be so interesting about his message was how he used the anniversary to reflect on his mission for the AYOBO/IPAJA people. He said: "Here in Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, we embody the spirit of progress that independence represents. Over the years, we have recorded significant strides in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and community development. These achievements are the product of our shared vision and collaborative efforts, and they continue to inspire us toward even greater accomplishments.

"As we commemorate this important milestone, let us reflect on the core values that unite us; unity, hard work, and patriotism. Let us also take this opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to building a community where opportunity is accessible to all, where peace and harmony prevail, and where collective progress remains our common goal".

He used the speech to remind the people of Ayobo/Ipaja that while his government was ready to serve them, they must also be ready to fulfill their own obligations too. He said further: "It is important to remember that independence is not only a gift but also a responsibility. Each of us has a role to play in the ongoing development of our LCDA and our nation. Whether it is through maintaining a clean environment, supporting local businesses, participating in civic duties, or fostering peaceful coexistence, every effort matters.

"The road ahead may not be without challenges, but with unity and determination, we will overcome them. Together, we can continue to build a model LCDA; one that reflects the best of our shared values and aspirations for future generations. On behalf of the entire leadership of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, I wish you all a joyous and meaningful 65th Independence Day celebration. May our community and our nation continue to flourish in peace, unity, and sustainable development. Happy Independence Day"

Then came the Teacher's Day speech, where he described teachers a class of our society whose "selfless services" remain the pillars of society morals and discipline. He said: "Teachers are pillars of knowledge, discipline, and moral strength, whose selfless dedication continues to build a more enlightened and prosperous society. He acknowledged their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders, noting that no nation can truly develop beyond the quality of its teachers".

All this makes a good start in social reengineering, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated to be a part of his RenewedHope Agenda. It is only being domesticated at this grassroots corridor. However, it is to be advised that the Independence Day celebration may be given a gold touch with a march parade for the Basic level students under the local council. This will help to reestablish the memories of early 1970s even up to the late epoch, when it was inspirational for such a parade by pupils before the state leader. The local government autonomy would have hopefully matured before the next year's, such that the council will be fully conscious that the Basic level educations are its responsibilities. Involving the march parade will also serve the same purpose for which our National Anthem was reversed.

For the International Teachers Day, event of noteworthy value may be organised for the teachers. Parameters may be designed for how the "Best Teacher in Ayobo/Ipaja" may emerge and the Prize Giving Day made to coincide with the Teachers Day. All this is a way to mobilise the spirit of the stakeholders to be immersed in the event created for their recognition severely.