Hamzat kept his word to be best deputy gov in Lagos’ history – Sanwo-Olu

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as the best deputy governor in Lagos history, saying he kept a promise made on day one of their administration.

Sanwo-Olu said this in a long personal statement posted on X on Friday night, hours after Hamzat unveiled his governorship manifesto tagged “The Lagos PROMISE – Ileri Eko” at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre, Iganmu.

The governor used the post to explain why he is backing Hamzat to succeed him when Lagosians go to the polls on February 6, 2027.

“Most of you know this story, but none of you have heard it from me,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

He recalled how Hamzat, who had 13 years of public service under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, wanted to be governor in September 2018 and had the record and backing to win.

He stated, “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.”

According to Sanwo-Olu, “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.”

Sanwo-Olu, who first endorsed Hamzat on April 27 during a consultation visit to Lagos House, Marina, said only someone who worked closely with Hamzat could judge his character.

“Anyone can read a CV but only the person in the room with a man when the cameras leave can tell you who he really is. For 2,711 days, I have been in that room with him,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu listed defining moments of their seven-year administration, from COVID-19 to major infrastructure delivery.

“When COVID-19 hit, when we faced our hardest weeks, when the Blue and Red Lines ran and when the Lekki Deep Sea Port opened, Femi was there. Long before any ribbon was cut, he was asking the tough questions an engineer asks,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He contrasted Hamzat’s role with the ceremonial deputy role seen in many states.

“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 framed Lagos succession since 1999 as a relay race. The state has been governed by Tinubu (1999-2007), Fashola (2007-2015), Akinwunmi Ambode (2015-2019) and himself since 2019 – all from the same progressive political family.

“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 highlighted Hamzat’s technocratic pedigree. Hamzat was Commissioner for Science and Technology under Tinubu, where he drove the state’s e-governance digitisation, and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Fashola, where he supervised projects including the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. He holds a doctorate in engineering and is the son of Oba Olatunji Hamzat, a close political associate of the first civilian governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

“Femi is a deputy governor like no other. He built the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge under Fashola, digitised government under Asiwaju and holds a doctorate in engineering. His father served Lateef Jakande. This is in his blood,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor also defended the continuity model against critics who say Lagos recycles the same pool of leaders.

“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,” he said.

Hamzat, who lost the APC governorship primary in 2014 to Ambode and stepped down for Sanwo-Olu in 2018, unveiled a seven-point manifesto on Friday.

The PROMISE acronym stands for People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity.

Sanwo-Olu argued that Hamzat’s bid is a continuation, not a new experiment.

He said, “What Femi presents today is not a campaign promise cooked up on a bus, it is the next leg of a race we have been running since 1999.

“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.”

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