Fashola Rated Best Performing Governor Since 1999.

A study to measure the democratic awareness and political will among Lagos residents has indicated that despite the high level of awareness on democratic processes, the people have lost confidence in governance, but rated the present Lagos State government high. The study rated Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as best performing governor since 1999.

From the study, 71 per cent of the respondents favoured Governor Fashola. Only 10.5 per cent of the respondents who are indigenes of the various states of the federation chose other governors as those that have met their political and socio-economic expectations.

The study, which was conducted by postgraduate students of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos in March this year, and measuring the impact of governance in Lagos since 1999, indicated a high level of political apathy among the respondents, who hinged their reason on failure of government to deliver the dividend of true and undiluted governance to the people.

Reacting to the findings of the study, the course lecturer and an expert in Precision Journalism, Dr. Adepoju Tejumaiye said although the research was an academic endeavour, it nonetheless provided an insight into the socio-political behaviour of Nigerians, especially, Lagos residents.

“A social and behavioural study such as this remains a veritable means of determining a society’s problems and aspirations of its people. I will enjoin politicians and the country leaders to make good use of the findings of this objective effort. It is even good enough for their projections and as a platform on which to build further socio-political studies of this nature in the country today,” Tejumaiye said, during the presentation of the report to the department.

In the study, 500 respondents were randomly selected from 20 busy areas in the megacity. The areas covered in the survey included Obalende, Broad Street/Marina, Oshodi, Ikeja, Ojuelegba/Surulere, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Iyana-Ipaja, Ajah/Lekki and Mushin. Others are Ojodu/Berger, Agege, Bariga, Ketu, Ojota, Mile 12, Mile 2, Alaba Int’l, Apapa and Yaba. About 93 per cent of the respondents showed disatisfaction with the country’s democracy.

Also, 90 per cent of them beleived that politicians and leaders have crumbled the Nigerian economy, due to selfishness and corruption, while 47 per cent outrightly opined that the system of government has failed. The survey which was carried out by the 2012/2013 set of M Sc. students that undertook a Precision Journalism course, also highlighted poor followership as another major problem in the country’s democratic struggle.

About 52 per cent of the respondents blamed poor followership for the woes of Nigeria’s democracy.
However, despite the problems in the system, more than half of the respondents agreed that democracy is viable and remained the best option for the country.

(All Africa)