Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has recalled how his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, shelved his governorship ambition in 2018 after political leaders asked him to step aside and support his emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate.
Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat had the credentials, political support and public service experience to secure the party’s ticket and win the governorship election but chose to become his running mate following discussions with party stakeholders.
The governor made this known in a post on his X account on Friday, describing his deputy’s decision to relinquish his ambition as an uncommon demonstration of loyalty and selflessness.
“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.
“It takes a rare man to put down what he wants without nursing a grudge. Femi shook my hand and five weeks later, agreed to run beside me. I have never forgotten that,” he wrote.
Hamzat withdrew from the Lagos governorship contest in September 2018 and subsequently appealed to his supporters to back Sanwo-Olu during the APC governorship primary.
Reflecting on their seven years in office since 2019, the governor said his deputy had remained loyal and committed to their administration, adding that he had never had reasons to doubt Hamzat’s support.
“In many states, deputies are kept in reserve. On day one, Femi promised to be the best deputy governor in Lagos history. He kept his word. In seven years, there has not been a single day I wondered whose side he was on. We have had one government, one direction, and one voice,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged Hamzat’s contributions to major developments in Lagos, including the state’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of the Blue and Red rail lines and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
He noted that his deputy’s background in engineering had been valuable in overseeing infrastructure projects, particularly in asking technical questions and scrutinising projects before their completion.
The governor further highlighted Hamzat’s previous experience in government, recalling his service as commissioner for Science and Technology under former Governor Bola Tinubu and commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during the administration of Babatunde Fashola.
Using a relay race to explain the state’s political succession process, Sanwo-Olu said successive administrations had built on the achievements of their predecessors.
“Lagos runs on a relay system. The baton is never passed to a runner standing still. You run at full speed inside the exchange zone, together, before the pass. That is how Lagos has been governed for 27 years, from Asiwaju to BRF, to Ambode, to me,” he said.
He also recalled Hamzat’s role in the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and the digitisation of government operations, describing his deputy’s professional and family background as evidence of his longstanding connection to public service.
“Femi is a deputy governor like no other. He built the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge under Fashola, digitized government under Asiwaju and holds a doctorate in engineering. His father served Lateef Jakande. This is in his blood,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu’s remarks followed the presentation of Hamzat’s governorship manifesto, titled The Lagos PROMISE, as the deputy governor prepares to contest the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
The governor portrayed Hamzat’s ambition as a continuation of the state’s established leadership succession process and urged residents to support his deputy.
Responding to criticisms that Lagos had continued to produce governors from the same political circle, Sanwo-Olu defended the state’s approach, arguing that it prioritised experience and continuity.
“Critics say Lagos keeps choosing from the same pool. I say Lagos trains its people. With major projects underway and a master plan stretching to 2052, this is not the time to experiment.
“Lagos does not hand the baton to a man standing still. Today, you have seen the man who is already running. Let us move forward together with The Lagos PROMISE,” he said.
