Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has recounted how his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, put aside his ambition to become governor in 2018 after party leaders asked him to make way for Sanwo-Olu.
In a post on X on Friday, Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat accepted the decision without resentment and later agreed to become his running mate, a gesture he said he had not forgotten.
“Most of you know this story, but none of you have heard it from me,” he wrote.
“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.
“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.”
The governor said his experience working closely with Hamzat over the years had given him a deeper understanding of his character beyond his professional achievements.
“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 also praised Hamzat’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic and his contributions to major infrastructure projects across Lagos. He said the deputy governor was involved in scrutinising projects long before their official commissioning.
“Long before any ribbon was cut, he was asking the tough questions an engineer asks,” he said.
Describing their working relationship, Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat had fulfilled his promise to serve as the best deputy governor in the state’s history, adding that he had never doubted his loyalty.
READ ALSO:
- Hamzat Shelved Governorship Ambition For Me In 2018 – Sanwo-Olu
- RMD: Working With Younger People Keeps Me Energetic At 65
- Hamzat Unveils 100-Point Manifesto Ahead Of 2027 Lagos Governorship Election
- Obasanjo Slams Tinubu Over Borrowing Comment, Says Debt Is Worse Than Leprosy
- FG To Begin Monthly ₦50,000 Cash Transfers To Vulnerable Households
“On day one, Femi promised to be the best deputy governor in Lagos history. He kept his word,” he said.
“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 used a relay race analogy to explain the political transition process in Lagos, arguing that a successor must be prepared through active participation in governance before taking over leadership.
“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 also highlighted Hamzat’s experience in public service, noting that he built the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola and contributed to the digitalisation of government under former Governor Bola Tinubu. He added that Hamzat holds a doctorate in engineering and comes from a family with a history of public service, as his father served under former Governor Lateef Jakande.
Responding to criticism that Lagos continues to draw its political leadership from the same circle, Sanwo-Olu said the state develops its own people for leadership positions.
“With major projects underway and a master plan stretching to 2052, this is not the time to experiment. 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.”
Sanwo-Olu’s remarks followed the unveiling of Hamzat’s governorship manifesto, titled The Lagos Promise. The document outlines his proposed agenda, with priorities covering healthcare, education, employment, infrastructure, youth empowerment, security and inclusive governance.