In Nigeria's political ecosystem, Lagos State stands out for its uniqueness and political sophistication since 1999, which no other state has replicated. This has driven its economy and other sectors to grow rapidly. The smooth political succession and massive successes in all spheres are intertwined, products of strategic and deep thinking.
From President Bola Tinubu as governor (1999-2007), Babatunde Fashola (2007-2015), Akinwunmi Ambode (2015-2019), to Babajide Sanwo-Olu (2019 to date), the succession and success story have been palatable to Lagosians. Stability has been the hallmark behind the general success of the Centre of Excellence.
Dr. Myles Munroe, a renowned Bahamian evangelical minister, once said: "True leaders don't invest in buildings… They invest in people. Why? Because success without a successor is failure. So, your legacy should not be in buildings, programmes, or projects; your legacy must be in people." When a leader invests in people, as Tinubu has done in Lagos since 1999, the people invest in good programmes and projects, as all his successors have been doing. None has disappointed Lagosians, and they cannot afford to.
In recent weeks, the political leadership in Lagos has purposefully chosen a successor to Sanwo-Olu to sustain the momentum from May 29 next year. The choice of Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat to succeed his boss is borne out of the need for continuity. The wise choice is like putting a round peg in a round hole. Hamzat is able and ready for the higher role, having been in government for many years; the challenges of leadership in a complex state like Lagos are not new to him.
Today, every Tom, Dick, and Harry in Lagos knows that Hamzat is the consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. However, the tortuous journey to this point was strewn with thorns. Many qualified Lagosians showed interest in the seat, but the governorship position in a state like Lagos is not for the faint-hearted. The political leadership understands this and settled for a lion-hearted man like Hamzat.
The wide consultations of critical stakeholders he embarked on to solidify the party's consensus decision were worth the pains. The acceptance and endorsements were huge, and the gains were enormous. One gain was the grand endorsement of Hamzat by President Tinubu in Abuja. Another was the endorsement by Governor Sanwo-Olu and the all-powerful Governance Adversary Council (GAC), led by elder statesman Prince Tajudeen Olusi. GAC not only endorsed Hamzat as its consensus candidate but also bought the N50 million governorship nomination form for him as a demonstration of full support. The nomination form was signed by 120 APC leaders and members across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Another gain was the stepping down of Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, known as Jandor, for Hamzat. Before this stage, the deputy governor had visited many party stalwarts and Lagos indigenes individually for consultations. The next stage is for the many "generals" in Lagos politics to start mobilising their foot soldiers to ensure millions of residents vote for Hamzat come January 2027. All machinery and structures must be set in motion to ensure victory.
Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said this when Hamzat visited him at his Ikeja GRA residence: "Our discussions were frank, strategic and centred on the future of Lagos. I can confidently say that the momentum is clear and the message is consistent — Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is well-positioned to lead Lagos to greater heights. As Speaker, I will continue to galvanise my political structure and work with like-minded leaders to ensure victory at the polls. Lagos deserves continuity, stability and progress, and I am fully committed to that course. Together, we will win."
Like Obasa, other party leaders are duty-bound to start working for Hamzat's victory in the 2027 election. This will make the victory dance, which is certain, a sweet one. Omolale, a seasoned journalist, sent in this piece from Lagos.
