Lagos State governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Rotimi Odunaike, has said improving the quality of life of residents would be a central focus of his administration if elected.
Odunaike stated this while speaking on Daily Digest with Jimi Disu on Nigeria Info, where he discussed his motivation for seeking the governorship and his concerns about living conditions in Lagos.
“Lagos raised me,” he said, recalling his experience growing up in the state before spending part of his professional life abroad.
Odunaike said his concerns about Lagos were not primarily based on economic statistics but on the everyday experiences of residents.
“When I look at the state of things and the quality of life, I’m not talking about numbers and I’m not talking about statistics. I’m talking about the impact to Lagosians on their quality of life,” he said.
He cited traffic and mobility as examples of the challenges confronting residents.
Odunaike, who said he lives in Ikeja, said he left home shortly before 7am to get to the radio station and spent about an hour travelling to his destination.
“That is not living. That is surviving. It’s not even thriving,” he said.
He argued that mobility should be treated as more than a transportation issue, saying improved movement across the state would make it easier for residents to access jobs, businesses and other opportunities.
He cited the example of a resident of Ikeja who might need to travel to Epe for business, saying the journey should not become a major constraint.
Odunaike also spoke about traders in the informal sector, saying their businesses could be affected by challenges including flooding and other environmental problems.
He described traders as an important part of the Lagos economy and said their daily experiences should be considered when assessing governance and public policy.
The Labour Party candidate said areas including governance, transportation, the economy, housing and hospitality required attention.
He also said Lagos should demonstrate the meaning of its “Centre of Excellence” description through the quality of services and governance provided to residents.
Odunaike said his interest in politics was driven by his views about the direction of the state rather than competition among political personalities.
He also attributed his approach to leadership to values he said were instilled in him while growing up, particularly by his mother, who was a Nigerian Army officer, and during his years in military schools.
“You might meet different people. You might deviate a little bit here and there, but your core brings you back,” he said.
Odunaike said he believed stronger values and a greater emphasis on service were needed in public life.
“At the end of the day, it is about them,” he said, referring to Lagos residents.
