By Musbau Rasak
In the past month, the dominating topic in the socio-political space in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the most populous black nation on earth, is the governorship race.
There have been discussions on who occupies the Governor’s Office in 2027 when the incumbent, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu completes his constitutionally allowed two terms of four years each.
The discussions have centered on who will pick the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ruling party in the state and also at the centre which many believe, will still continue to call the shot, given the fact that the party has been ruling the state since the return to democracy in 1999.
The discussions reached a crescendo level as weekend approaches and news filtered in that the leadership of the APC with the tacit approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has decided to support the current Deputy Governor, Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat for the coveted position.
On Friday, 10 April, 2026, the highly respected and coveted member of the House of Representatives, Rt Honourable James Abiodun Faleke, came out boldly to announce his support for Hamzat, calling on all his supporters to do same and urging party members to vote for him in the coming primaries of the party.
Faleke’s endorsement created a high-fever frenzy in the party. Many believe with Faleke making such move, the main man, President Tinubu, has spoken.
Some people have been questioning the support for Hamzat, particularly from the other aspirant who has ruled before.
A critical analysis of the man, Kadir Obafemi Hamzat is the objective of this article.
I may not be the closest to him, but I can also lay claim to being closer to him than many who are making such claim today.
And as a journalist who has not only covered Lagos politics, particularly the Progressives camp, interact and make friends with many politicians from the Progressives camp, Hamzat inclusive for about three decades, I can humbly submit here that I am qualified to write about the man I have been interacting with for about one and half decades.
I won’t bore you with how I met and became very close to him, I will reserve that for my book on Lagos politics.
However, I will make this article centers on the qualities that set Kadir Obafemi Hamzat apart, in my interaction and closeness to him.
Education: In terms of education, Dr Hamzat is sound. He has been certified, by some of the greatest institutions in the world.
He obtained his PhD at the tender age of 27 and has been an adjunct Professor, and has also worked at Morgan Stanley where Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu head-hunted in the early 2000s.
Hamzat stands out from the crowd and even his fiercest rivals recognise his qualities.
Experienced Team-player: Since he assumed public service office as the pioneer Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos, Hamzat has been a deeply committed team-player. He recognised authority and is loyal and committed to a fault.
Sanwo-Olu is the third Governor Hamzat is working with and it is very instructive that none has had any cause to complain about him.
As Commissioner for Science and Technology under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; as Commissioner for Science and Technology and later Works and Infrastructure under Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; and now as the Deputy Governor under Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Hamzat has been and continue to be an epitome of loyalty and commitment and none has had cause to complain about him.
It’s instructive to note that by 2027, Hamzat will become the first Deputy Governor to serve his constitutionally allowed tenure full since the present democracy berthed in Lagos. This is a clear testimony of his team-playing ability. His loyalty and commitment have never been in doubt.
Calm but highly efficient: Hamzat is not the one to make noise. He goes delivering on duties assigned to him with calm efficiency.
