Gathering critical momentum ahead of the highly anticipated Lagos State governorship election, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has secured vital endorsements from the state’s traditional and political establishment, signalling a formidable consolidation of the ruling party’s base.
The extensive consultative tour, which moved through the residences of prominent elder statesman Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu and former Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, underscored a coordinated effort by political heavyweights to align progressive structures behind Hamzat’s gubernatorial ambition.
Accompanied by a delegation of influential political actors, the tour served as a public affirmation of Hamzat’s long-standing institutional ties. At the residence of Alhaji Okunnu, the distinguished Nigerian lawyer and elder statesman, the delegation’s visit was anchored on the importance of historical precedent. He offered extensive reflections on the trajectory of Lagos State and Nigeria, noting that an intricate understanding of the state’s history remains an indispensable compass for its incoming leadership.
The high point of the visit came when former Lagos West Senator, Musiliu Obanikoro, formally presented Hamzat to the elder statesman. Speaking with categorical certainty, Obanikoro dispelled any ambiguities surrounding the political succession plan, introducing Hamzat as the “anointed candidate” for the state’s top job.
“Today, we are presenting your son as the next governor,” Obanikoro declared. “He is a committed Lagosian. Considering his over sixteen years’ experience in the government of Lagos, and the fact that he has distinguished himself as someone with the interest of this state at heart, he is the right person and best man for the job.”
Addressing the underlying political discourse regarding his state of origin, a recurring talking point in Lagos political cycles, Dr. Hamzat met the narrative head-on. He strategically pivoted the conversation from nativism to competence, arguing that the economic and structural viability of Lagos should remain the absolute priority for any political stakeholder.
“What is important is how Lagos is progressing,” Hamzat stated. “We need to know that Lagos is too important for Nigeria. So our priority should be how Lagos progresses. We are meeting political leaders of progressive extraction and notable figures within the state to seek their blessings and support.”
Concluding the engagement, Alhaji Okunnu threw his weight behind the aspiration, offering special prayers for the candidate and asking for divine ease for the political journey ahead.
The political train subsequently advanced to the home of former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who framed the Hamzat governorship project as a collective mandate for the progressive political family.
Endorsing his competence, Orelope-Adefulire described Hamzat as an intrinsic part of the Lagos governance machinery. “This project is our project. We know what you stand for: capability and relationship with people. You have been one of us for many years and are part of the system. It is a round peg in a round hole,” she stated.
The former deputy governor did not mince words regarding the electoral work ahead. She issued a marching order to party loyalists, stressing that the upcoming election would require aggressive, granular campaigning. “This election is not one to be taken lightly. All required efforts must be intensified. We must start canvassing people now, door-to-door, everyone, every cluster. We must intensify efforts to ensure the elections are won,” she charged the delegation.
Beyond local politics, the meeting also served as a platform to defend the broader political family, specifically the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Orelope-Adefulire praised the President’s vision, noting that the long-term benefits of his economic dynamics would eventually be appreciated by Lagos and the nation at large.
Aligning with this sentiment, Hamzat criticised the resistance to the ongoing federal reforms, attributing the pushback to entrenched interests. “A lot of Nigerians do not like good things because they are benefiting from the bad system,” he observed. “It takes a reasonable person to know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot of great things.”
The sheer political weight of the consultative tour was reflected in the composition of Hamzat’s entourage. The delegation featured a coalition of seasoned political operators, including Senators Musiliu Obanikoro and Ganiyu Solomon; Alh Bode Oyedele, a prominent chieftain from Ibeju Lekki Local Government; Hon. Rasaq Olusola Ajala, the immediate past Chairman of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA; as well as the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works, Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, and his Religious Matters counterpart, Dr. Jebe Abdullah.
As the election cycle draws nearer, this high-profile tour indicates that the progressive establishment in Lagos is already closing ranks, banking on experience, institutional continuity, and aggressive grassroots mobilisation to retain control of the nation’s economic nerve centre.
