Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed how his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, abandoned his ambition to govern the state in 2018 following a request by political leaders to support his emergence.
Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat, who had been interested in the governorship position, agreed to step down and eventually became his running mate ahead of the 2019 election.
The governor made this known in a post on his X account on Friday, describing Hamzat’s decision as an uncommon demonstration of loyalty and selflessness.
According to him, Hamzat had the political support, experience and public service record to pursue the governorship ambition but chose to put the party’s decision ahead of his personal interest.
“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,” Sanwo-Olu wrote.
He added that Hamzat accepted the decision without resentment and agreed to run alongside him about five weeks after withdrawing from the race.
“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 stated.
Reflecting on their seven years in government, Sanwo-Olu praised his deputy for his commitment, saying their working relationship had been characterised by mutual trust and a shared vision.
He said, “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.”
The governor also acknowledged Hamzat’s contributions to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the execution of major infrastructure projects, including the Blue and Red rail lines and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
He noted that Hamzat’s engineering background had been valuable in assessing government projects, particularly in ensuring that technical issues were addressed before their completion.
Sanwo-Olu further highlighted his deputy’s previous experience in government, including 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.
He also credited Hamzat with playing a role in the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and the digitisation of government operations in Lagos.
Describing the state’s leadership succession as a continuous process, Sanwo-Olu said the administration had benefited from the experience and contributions of successive leaders since 1999.
“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,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu’s remarks come amid Hamzat’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election, following the unveiling of his manifesto, tagged The Lagos PROMISE.
The governor urged Lagos residents to support his deputy, arguing that his experience in government and familiarity with ongoing projects positioned him to sustain the state’s development agenda.
He maintained that Lagos needed continuity, particularly with several infrastructure projects underway and a long-term development plan extending to 2052.
