By Steve Omolale
“The real work is just beginning and I am grateful to have such a dedicated team standing with me as we build the future of our state. We are ready for the days ahead. Let’s get to work.”
With this call to duty, Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the state in next year’s general elections, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has set the tone for what to expect by Lagosians in the months and years ahead.
Hamzat who addressed his supporters at his Sobo Arobiodu, Ikeja GRA campaign office on Thursday evening, after he was officially named as the governorship candidate earlier in the day, added, “Supporters, party members, the entire team came together with the belief and a shared commitment to the future we want to build.”
The eventual nomination of the deputy governor as the party’s flag-bearer was the culmination of months of energy-sapping and wide consultations with party stakeholders across the state and after the party’s governorship primaries.
From the confident way he spoke to his ecstatic supporters who thronged his campaign office and waited patiently for his arrival, it is obvious that he knows and understands the herculean task ahead.
Lagos is unlike other states in the country. And because of this, it requires an exceptionally experienced person to govern it satisfactorily. A man who will ensure the chain and pace of development of the state is not broken is the one needed for the difficult tasks ahead.
The good work of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu must be sustained after his glowing tenure next year. And the only person who can do this, as wisely chosen by the APC, is Dr. Hamzat because he has been part of the winning team right from inception, and even before then. This is what is called continuity.
Hamzat, without any doubt, obviously understands the nitty-gritty of the job ahead of him.
According to the deputy governor, “Over the last two decades, I have had the privilege of serving Lagos in different capacities alongside exceptional leaders who laid the foundation for the progress our state enjoys today. I have seen firsthand that governance is not easy, but I have also seen what is possible when leadership is guided by vision, courage, and a genuine commitment to the people.
“As Deputy Governor, I understand that keeping a megacity running requires careful planning, experience, and steady leadership. We must continue to invest in transportation, jobs, education, healthcare, security, and opportunities that give people hope and dignity. We must build a Lagos where no one is left behind and where every child can dream beyond the circumstances they were born into.
“I am proud of what we have achieved as a state, but I am even more excited about what lies ahead. The stakes in 2027 are high but with your partnership, we will keep Lagos moving forward and continue building a future we can all be proud of.”
These are the words of a visionary leader.
And confirming the competence of his deputy after his nomination on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “We have worked side by side for years and I know firsthand his deep love for Lagosians, his brilliance, and his unwavering dedication to progress. The work ahead is massive, but with Femi, I am absolutely confident that our state will reach even greater heights. Let us stay united and keep moving Lagos forward.”
This is the greatest attestation ever, coming from the governor to his deputy of seven years.
The next stage now is another critical one; it is a stage for mobilisation of eligible voters. It is a stage where every Lagosian who is discernible, who is enjoying and benefitting from the massive infrastructure and services provided by the Sanwo-Olu administration,
who appreciates what real development is all about, and who believes in continuity must participate in.
At this stage, all Lagos residents of voting age must get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ready to vote for the man divinely anointed to lead the state from next year.
This is necessary because, according to the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, “When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter because you do, and you deserve to be heard.”
Like I said in a previous write-up, party stakeholders and people of goodwill must sell Dr. Obafemi Hamzat to Lagosians in the months ahead and ensure he is voted in as the next governor of the state.
