Obafemi Hamzat And ‘The Lagos Promise’

By Mobolaji Sanusi

“The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.”—Malcolm Gladwell

In my part of the world, one familiar cliché routinely finds its way into everyday conversations: “a promise is a debt.” It is an expression so frequently invoked that it has almost become an accepted principle of social interaction. But when it comes to the official conduct of public affairs in this part of the world, a fundamental question arises: Is a promise truly a debt, and can those who make promises in the political arena be held to account for fulfilling them?

Under the law of contract that applies across legal jurisdictions, an exchange of promises is generally recognised as legally binding and enforceable, except where it constitutes a nudum pactum, which means a bare agreement unsupported by consideration. In its everyday usage, Wikipedia defines a promise as “a commitment by someone to do or not to do something.” This also finds further expression in the universal Latin legal maxim, pacta sunt servanda, which states that agreements must be kept. The principle is not restricted to private contractual relationships; it also offers a compelling moral and political standard against which public commitments, including socio-political agreements between elected leaders and their constituents, ought to be measured.

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the cerebral incumbent Deputy Governor of Lagos State and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has taken a significant step towards establishing such a relationship of accountability with the people of Lagos. He has emerged as the first major gubernatorial contender across Nigeria to publicly present a concrete and actionable manifesto that he titles: “The Lagos Promise — Ìlérí Èkó.” The document, which he unveiled on Friday, sets out specific deliverables his administration intends to pursue when elected and inaugurated on May 29, 2027.

Hamzat’s firm grasp of the substance of the manifesto was evident even before its formal public unveiling. In his continuing engagements with stakeholders within and outside Lagos State, he has demonstrated a clear command of the policy direction and priorities that would shape his administration. During a recent visit to the President and Senior Chiefs of the Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs, preceding the public presentation of his manifesto, he demonstrated this grasp by extemporaneously outlining its seven pillars, 31 chapters, and 100 pledges.

In the presence of his hosts, including business tycoon Chief Kessington Adebutu and other prominent leaders, Hamzat offered an important clarification about the nature of the pledges contained in the document. He explained that 87 of the 100 pledges are commitments, while the remaining 13 are aspirations. This distinction, he maintained, was necessary because “government also has limits,” particularly in view of the constitutional delineation of powers and responsibilities among the judiciary, the Federal Government, and state governments.

His clarification is significant. It reflects an understanding that responsible leadership is not merely about making attractive promises to secure electoral support; it is also about recognising the constitutional, institutional, and empirical boundaries within which government must operate. Indeed, the credibility of a political manifesto should not be measured by the sheer volume of promises it contains, but by the realism of its commitments, the clarity of its implementation framework, and the capacity of its authors to translate policy intentions into measurable outcomes. This is the manifest difference between Hamzat’s “The Lagos Promise — Ìlérí Èkó” and the hitherto verbose compilations that other politicians across the country seeking elective positions call manifestos.

Yours sincerely believes that Hamzat’s institutional experience gives above proposition considerable weight. Having served in virtually every administration that has governed Lagos State, with the exception of one, he possesses an unusually deep understanding of the state’s governance architecture, administrative machinery, and development priorities. His accumulated experience is a significant advantage in his stated ambition to deliver on the commitments contained in “The Lagos Promise — Ìlérí Èkó.” It provides him with an appreciation of what works, what requires reform, and, perhaps more importantly, what is realistically achievable within the constitutional and operational confines of state governance.

His wealth of administrative experience is further complemented by his formidable political family pedigree, which provides an additional foundation for navigating the complex political terrain of Lagos State.

The inimitable sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, must have had someone of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s stature in mind when he declared that, “Experience is a commodity that cannot be purchased in an open market; you must go through it.” Having traversed the demanding terrain of successive administrations and managerial governance since the time President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, as Governor of Lagos State, persuaded him to leave a prestigious professional engagement in the United States to serve his state, Hamzat has accumulated a wealth of experience and an impressive public service record that places him above other contenders in the 2027 Lagos governorship race. He’s certainly the next Lagos governor that is waiting to be crowned and this shall eventually come to pass, God willing.

Lagosians are indeed fortunate to have a potential governor with such rich and enduring political and administrative credentials. More importantly, they have standing before them a candidate with a clear vision, a firm grasp of the state’s challenges, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of its people.

Despite widespread confidence in his competence, capacity, and electoral prospects, Hamzat is leaving no stone unturned as the 2027 election approaches. His campaign’s strategic leadership team, headed by noteworthy Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a capable and tested veteran of many political battles, as Director-General, with the consistently dependable and seasoned political strategist, Honourable Rasak Ajala as Deputy Director-General, is already working assiduously to secure a resounding victory. The team, alongside other dedicated members of the campaign structure, operates under the strategic guidance of the respected Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), led by our revered Baba Tajudeen Olusi.

The campaign has set an ambitious target of securing a victory margin of at least three million votes for Hamzat and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Yet, rather than rest on his widespread goodwill and confidence, Hamzat remains relentless in his pursuit of this objective.

He is approaching the campaign with the determination and energy of someone starting from ground zero, personally engaging critical stakeholders across the state. His consultations have extended to religious leaders in churches and mosques, social organisations, community influencers, political leaders, and even members of the opposition parties. His message is consistent: to present his programmes, communicate his vision for Lagos, and secure the trust and support of the electorate.

Equally central to his message is the importance of continuity in governance and the need for Lagosians to participate actively in the electoral process by coming out en masse to vote for him and return President Tinubu to office. For Hamzat, the task is not merely about winning an election; it is about sustaining the progress of Lagos while building on the foundations already laid.

Indeed, listening to Hamzat articulate his vision and mission for his beloved Lagos State leaves little doubt about his appreciation of the responsibilities and opportunities before him. His disposition aptly reflects the timeless observation of Joel Barker when he said: “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” Hamzat appears determined to translate this philosophy into practical governance by combining a clearly defined vision with purposeful and people-oriented action. His aspiration is to build a Lagos that works better for everyone, particularly law-abiding residents whose hopes and expectations he promised will remain at the centre of his government’s policy agenda.

“The Lagos Promise — Ìlérí Èkó,” Hamzat’s publicly unveiled social contract with Lagosians, is his commitment that should resonate with inhabitants of the state across ethnic, religious, social, and economic divides. Young and old, women and men, professionals, artisans, entrepreneurs, and ordinary residents all have a stake in his promises and commitments.

Hamzat understands the needs of the people and amongst his key priorities are improved road infrastructure, a more effective and sustainable environmental management system, better access to quality healthcare and education, a responsive and humane security architecture, an affordable and realistic housing system, redressing the trend of current elusive portable water for all, and creation of a business environment that encourages investment, innovation, enterprise, and job creation. These are not merely campaign talking points; they are critical pillars upon which a more prosperous, inclusive, and liveable Lagos will be built under Hamzat’s leadership.

Ultimately, the credibility of any political vision lies in its implementation. Lagosians should therefore engage with “The Lagos Promise — Ìlérí Èkó,” examine its commitments, and hold its proponents accountable for delivering on them. Once again, Hamzat’s experience, administrative pedigree, and understanding of the state’s governance architecture provide a compelling basis for believing that he has the capacity to translate these aspirations into tangible outcomes.

Yours sincerely believes that Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s emergence as the next Governor of Lagos State and Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as his deputy would mark another significant chapter in the state’s remarkable evolution. With the right blend of experience, vision, strategic leadership, and purposeful execution, Lagos can move beyond being an empire of the mind to becoming a true future empire of Nigeria and Africa, to borrow, with due apologies, from the words of Winston Churchill. The opportunity before Lagos is not simply to choose another governor; it is to choose the experience, vision, and capacity required to consolidate its achievements and boldly shape its future.

Hamzat is obviously at the moment the best choice to translate Lagosians’ desires into reality. Other candidates in states across the country need to learn something about prepared leadership from his starting point on Friday. With his clean sheet of paper containing his achievable promises, reimagining the future of Lagos is a foregone conclusion.

On this note, I hereby rest my case for the week.

•Sanusi, former MD/CEO of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, is currently Managing Partner at AMS RELIABLE SOLICITORS. (WhatsApp only: 07011117777).