Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for 2027, Obafemi Hamzat, has said that the Nigerian constitution makes it nearly impossible for the country to return to regional government. He made the remarks on Friday at a centennial birthday lecture held in Lagos in honour of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, who turned 100 on May 11, 2026.
Hamzat Speaks at Fasoranti’s Centennial Lecture
The event, titled "Centennial Birthday Lecture: A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy," was held in Lagos. Hamzat attended in his capacity as chief host, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He used the occasion to address the long-standing debate about regionalism in Nigeria, which operated under a regional system of government between 1954 and 1966 before it was abolished.
Hamzat argued that the South-West's representation in the National Assembly is too small to push through a constitutional change of that scale, particularly when weighed against the number of lawmakers from the North-West alone. He said the numbers simply do not favour such an amendment, making any campaign for a return to regionalism impractical under the current legislative structure.
Why Regionalism Is Off the Table
According to Hamzat, the constitutional barriers are a major obstacle. He noted that the South-West lacks the legislative muscle to secure the required votes for a constitutional amendment. This is because the North-West, with its larger number of lawmakers, would likely oppose such a move, making the passage of a regionalism bill nearly impossible.
Hamzat's comments come at a time when some Yoruba groups have been advocating for a return to the regional system, which they argue would foster faster development and greater autonomy. However, the Deputy Governor believes that such a campaign is not practical under the current political reality.
What Hamzat Thinks the South-West Should Do Instead
Rather than pursuing regionalism, Hamzat urged the six South-West governors to take a more practical route by coordinating and harmonising their state budgets. He said this kind of fiscal alignment would allow the region's states to develop at a similar pace and fund shared infrastructure across state borders.
He pointed to rail connectivity as a key example of what inter-state collaboration could deliver. Citing the Red Line rail project, which connects Oyingbo in Lagos to Ijoko in Ogun State, he called for a broader rail network to be extended to other South-West states, including Ekiti. This, he said, would enhance economic integration and ease movement across the region.
Hamzat also encouraged the region to strengthen existing platforms already designed for collective growth, specifically the South West Development Commission and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). He described these institutions as underutilised but with real potential to drive regional progress.
Obanikoro Emerges as Hamzat's Campaign DG
In a related development, Legit.ng earlier reported that APC governorship candidate and deputy governor in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has appointed former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as the Director-General of his campaign organisation. Sources privy to the development disclosed that the appointment of Obanikoro was earlier approved by President Bola Tinubu before it became public.
It was also reported that all the members of the campaign council did not question the appointment of the two-term minister. The campaign is expected to gear up ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State, with Hamzat as the APC flagbearer.
