The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, senatorial candidate for Lagos Central, Ladipo Johnson, says he is seeking election to the Senate to provide what he describes as an effective voice for residents of the senatorial district.
Johnson stated this on Tuesday while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
He said many residents of Lagos Central were not sufficiently aware of who currently represents them in the Senate, arguing that the district deserves stronger representation.
Johnson said, “Well, unfortunately, if you speak to most people in Central, there’s Apapa, Etiosa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Surulere, if you ask most them that who have been representing you for the past three plus years? A lot of them don’t know his name.”
Johnson described Lagos Central as a strategically important part of Lagos State and Nigeria’s economy. According to him, the district includes major commercial and economic centres such as Apapa, Lagos Island, parts of Eti-Osa and major markets.
Johnson said, “We pride ourselves being the center of excellence and we in Lagos Central further believe that our Lagos Central is the heartbeat of the economy.”
The NDC chieftain also highlighted the commercial activities across the district .He argued that the district needs stronger representation at the National Assembly.
“It is very difficult for some people in Lagos Central to believe that being the center of excellence, we really have not had a voice in the Senate for the past three plus years,” he said.
Johnson said his decision to contest was based on his belief that he could effectively represent the district.
He said, “In all humility, I believe, and that is why I put myself forward, that I could be that voice in the Senate that will represent my people, our people from Central in a very effective, efficient manner,” he added.
Johnson revealed that his plans are built around five major areas: people, productivity, infrastructure, security and the rule of law, as well as governance. He stressed that as a legislator, he would not promise projects that fall within the responsibilities of the executive arm of government.
“I’m looking at the people. I’m looking at productivity, infrastructure, security, and of course, governance itself, “he disclosed.
“I am going into the legislative branch, not going in to build bridges. I’m not the executive arm of government, so I will not make those promises.”
According to the NDC chieftain, his role would include legislative oversight, lobbying and using what he described as the soft power of the Senate to attract investment and support government intervention in Lagos Central. He said Lagos Central has a significant concentration of small and medium-sized businesses that employ many residents.
“I will genuinely engage with our people in Central and talk about what we could do to ensure that we support the government, the executive arm and that we used the legislative oversight function and the soft power of the Senate to encourage people to bring in businesses.”
“Look at the Lekki axis, look at the amount of shops and small business, medium-sized businesses you have there, even in Mainland, even in Surulere, and they are the highest employers of labor.”
He further argued that government policies should not create unnecessary burdens for businesses.
“We can get that axis taken properly again and not kill them with all sorts of levies and taxes and this and that.”
On the challenges facing Lagos Central, Johnson identified unemployment, infrastructure deficits, flooding, security and governance as major concerns.
He said, “The number of young ones I have from Lagos Island, from Etiosa, the level of unemployment is outstanding. It’s just something that is waiting to explode.”
“And the security, rule of law, governance is another thing, because those are the things that will enable the economy to begin to move, enable us to attract businesses into our senatorial district,” he added.
Johnson also promised regular engagement with his constituents if elected.
He said, “I have already stated that I will pledge to be in constant touch with my people in two or three ways. One is that I have pledged that in every quarter, I will report back to them and I will hear from them through town halls, so that we’ll have a minimum of fair hearing.”
The NDC chieftain further promised a digital system through which constituents could monitor his legislative activities and constituency projects. He said the platform would allow constituents to track projects and bills directly from their phones.
“Secondly, I will have them create a digital dashboard, whereby the people can report to us as things are happening.”
“They can report and they can assess and track whether it is a constituency project or whether it is a bill before the senate. They can track it from their phones, so they know whether their senator is sleeping or whether that thing is slow because of the minister and not the senator’s fault.”
Johnson said the proposed system would enable constituents to question him directly about progress on commitments.
According to him, the system would also help citizens distinguish between delays caused by their representatives and those caused by other arms of government.
He said, “For those who want to see the process of government work properly, they will take that step. At least they will take the step of using a platform to report incidents that their representatives can aid with or help with, since they know they can do it from their phone.”
