When Babajide Sanwo-Olu stepped up to address the public about his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, he wasn’t just offering a routine political endorsement. He was pulling back the curtain on a partnership forged in ambition, tested by crisis, and anchored by a shared vision for Nigeria’s commercial nerve center.
In a powerful narrative that traces the inner workings of Lagos State’s political machinery, the Governor detailed the anatomy of a rare political alliance—and why he believes Hamzat is the logical choice to carry the torch forward.
The Anatomy of an Alliance
The story of the Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat ticket dates back to September 2018. At the time, Hamzat—armed with a sterling thirteen-year track record of public service under former governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola—was poised a strong bid for the governorship.
When party leadership requested that he step down to clear the path for Sanwo-Olu, the response defined his character. “It takes a rare man to put down what he wants without nursing a grudge,” Sanwo-Olu reflected. Rather than walking away, Hamzat shook hands with his rival and, just five weeks later, agreed to run as his deputy.
For 2,711 days, the two men have shared the crucible of leadership. From the unprecedented trials of the COVID-19 pandemic to monumental milestones like the inauguration of the Blue and Red rail lines and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Hamzat has been a permanent fixture in the room. As a trained engineer, his contributions often began long before ribbon-cuttings, marked by rigorous technical oversight and tough questions.
Unlike traditional political structures where deputy governors are sidelined, Sanwo-Olu noted that Hamzat pledged on day one to be the best deputy governor in Lagos history—a promise he has kept. “In seven years, there has not been a single day I wondered whose side he was on,” the Governor stated, emphasizing their unified government and singular voice.
Governance as a Relay Race
Lagos politics, Sanwo-Olu argued, operates much like a relay team. Power is never handed to someone standing still; instead, runners accelerate together inside the exchange zone. This continuity has anchored the state’s governance model for 27 years, transitioning seamlessly from Tinubu to Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and finally the current administration.
Hamzat’s credentials are deeply intertwined with this legacy. Beyond his academic background—holding a doctorate in engineering—he previously spearheaded critical infrastructure projects, such as the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge under Fashola, and led key digitization efforts under Tinubu. Furthermore, public service runs in his lineage; his father famously served under the administration of Lateef Jakande.
The Case for Continuity
Addressing critics who argue that Lagos politics continually draws from the same political pool, Sanwo-Olu offered a sharp counter-perspective: “Lagos trains its people.”
With major urban projects underway and a comprehensive master plan stretching toward 2052, the Governor argued that the state cannot afford to experiment with unproven leadership. What Hamzat represents, he asserted, is not a hastily assembled campaign platform, but the natural continuation of a developmental race that began over two decades ago.
As Lagos looks toward its next chapter under the banner of The Lagos PROMISE, the message from the incumbent administration is clear: the baton is ready, and the runner is already in full stride.
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