The Lagos Lagoon Takeover! - by Tobenna Obiano

While we battle the problem of bad drainage at home in Anambra State brought about by non opening up of water ways and gutters plus the idiocy of some of our people, who illegally dispose or dump their refuse inside the gutters and waterways, we must also be smart enough to speak up against the current state of things in Lagos.

Lagos State, by virtue of business presence and friendliness to playing host to most multi-national companies, outfits and firms plus hundreds of markets, they have the highest generation of Internally Generated Revenue. Lagos State IGR is equal to over 15 to 20 states of Nigeria IGR combined together.

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says or the indices or rationale we want to use to critic, we must be open minded and smart enough to speak up against bad or uninformed governance wherever and whenever it soars it's ugly head.

Most Lagosians, who are mainly resident in the highbrow Victoria Garden city on the island, Lekki and Apapa areas had their homes or businesses situated therein and major roads overtaken entirely by flood. The photos and videos went viral online. The flood of water overflowing its boundary was so bad that, it could swallow up a child. At some parts, it went up to almost the waist level, where someone was videoed swimming through it and another person, a white man was seen paddling his canoe on a major road that has been overtaken by the flood brought about by nearly two weeks endless rain.

The debate is that it happens all over the world! That debate to me is stupid. We always want to excuse the misfitness of our leaders, especially once we feel we want to show out our stands or sentiments. For heaven's sake, wherever natural diastaters happen abroad, Government keep the people informed and updated about what may become, that's why we hear of weather forecast.

In sane havens, all through America, Europe, Australia, some parts of Asia and the Caribbean for instance, if there is any reason for maintenance which means that power might be out, the Government uses all mediums open to them to inform the masses even weeks before the due date.

There is always hurricane, earthquake and flooding in the Caribbean and some Asia countries, the Government keeps everything in check and updates the people with every development and are very ready to assist wherein their plans fail or may not meet up with the problems or after effects. What has been the effort of Lagos State Government?

The Government should have seen this coming, as it's not like earthquake or tsunami that might suddenly happen. They ought to have provided prehand plans and created adequate measures to curtail possible loss, displacement and even death that may result from those devastation.

Lagos State towers in resources amongst the 36 States of Nigeria. The people pay huge tax and the Government cannot be making noise about doing wonders when the wellness of the populace is at risk. In this 7 days plus rain, flood even entered people's home, shaming the Eko City project to the face. Even as the flooding began and continued, what did the government put up or in place to save Lagosians incase the flood wants to wash them through too.

While some of us in Anambra want the best for our dear state and complain so much about the poor drainage system we have in our home state, where our roads are often overtaken by rainfall, we complain and with critic hoping and asking for better, we must rise to speak about this sad tale that has befallen Lagosians.

PortHarcourt is the oil city of Nigeria and sadly, it's another major city where flooding often overtakes the people yet with their huge resources, near nothing works as regards opening up proper drainage waterways for those to save lives and properties.

Lastly, I am deeply saddened to read where many Lagosians who have chosen to shamelessly ridicule their co Lagosians. The people of the mainland are making a jest of the residents of the highbrow island. It is class ignorance and foolishness, and the height of it for anyone to make a jest of the other's trouble or downfall. This is wrong and I strongly condemn it.

Even on the mainland, lately, Ikorodu has long been overtaken by criminal elements and ritualists, who have been code-named "Badoo boys" who get to their unsuspecting victims, kill them, collect their body parts and with handkerchief soaked in their blood for rituals. I read somewhere that they are paid the pitiable sum of N500,000 for such inhuman acts. What a shame?

Where is our humanity? Where is our conscience? Does it mean we now do not have any respect for human soul and for the sanctity of human life? Even clowns who do near nothing sit at spot and squander N500,000, yet these criminals murder people for same pitiable amount. Is it worth those crimes of hate, arson attack and murder? I don't think so, never!

Now, even when one plans to travel to Lagos, the fear of the wicked and criminal acts of these few has become the beginning of wisdom. Nigerians abroad who plan to visit home now resort to changing their flight for Abuja instead of the usually preferred choice of Lagos State. The rate of insecurity that has befallen Lagos is way out of the ordinary. I condemn the acts of these criminals and encourage our security agencies to do what they can to bring them to book.

Again, as a young man who loves my nation and wills the best for it, I'm held by my personal convictions to speak up on issues of National discuss.

Former Governors, Bola Tinibu, Raji Fashola and now Gov. Ambode must understand that politics of division or bad governance can backfire any time. This is Lagos which they called heaven and looted dry while in office, the suffrage occasioned by this thievery class even as they still maximize their income from their pre-planned looting avenues while the people suffer is saddening.

The lagoon overflowing its boundary and finding its way into the homes of Lagosians living or working on the island doesn't affect only Igbos, who the Oba once threatened to dump into it, now, it has made its way into the homes of everyone. Lagos State Government and Nigeria must wake up and fix this as soon as they can while placing rescuers around together with medics to manage the unforeseen problem.

Mine is to write, I have done my part!