Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, shelved his governorship ambition in 2018 after leaders of the All Progressives Congress asked him to support Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy.
In a message shared on his X account on Friday, Sanwo-Olu described Hamzat’s decision as a remarkable display of loyalty and selflessness, noting that the deputy governor had the credentials, experience and political support needed to contest and possibly win the race.
According to the governor, Hamzat accepted the party’s decision without bitterness and later agreed to serve as his running mate.
“Back in September 2018, Femi Hamzat wanted to be Governor of Lagos State. He had thirteen years of public service under Asiwaju and BRF, with the record and backing to win. Then party leaders asked him to step aside for me,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added that Hamzat’s willingness to abandon his aspiration for the sake of party unity was a gesture he has never forgotten.
Hamzat eventually withdrew from the governorship contest and endorsed Sanwo-Olu ahead of the APC primary election, urging his supporters to back the eventual governor.
Reflecting on their years in office, Sanwo-Olu said the partnership between them has remained strong since they assumed office in 2019, stressing that he has never had cause to question his deputy’s loyalty.
The governor praised Hamzat’s contributions to the administration, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis and the implementation of major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos Blue and Red Rail Lines as well as the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
He also highlighted Hamzat’s engineering background, saying it enabled him to play a critical role in evaluating and overseeing key government projects before completion.
Sanwo-Olu further noted that Hamzat brought extensive experience to government, having previously served as Commissioner for Science and Technology under former Governor Bola Tinubu and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola.
The governor described Lagos governance as a continuous relay of leadership, where successive administrations build on the achievements of their predecessors rather than starting afresh.
His remarks come as Hamzat formally unveiled his governorship agenda, known as The Lagos PROMISE, ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
Sanwo-Olu urged residents to support his deputy, describing him as a prepared and experienced candidate capable of sustaining ongoing projects and advancing the state's long-term development plans.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com