Sanwo-Olu promises peaceful transition, says no room for political crisis
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, has promised to ensure a peaceful transfer of power when his administration ends in 2027, saying he will not leave the state embroiled in a succession crisis.
Sanwo-Olu said one of the most significant achievements of his administration would be the ability of Lagos to change governors without political disagreements or hostility between outgoing and incoming leaders.
He made the remarks while expressing confidence in his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, whom he described as a trusted partner capable of sustaining the state’s development.
The governor observed that political successions in some states had resulted in court battles and strained relationships between outgoing governors and their deputies.
However, he said Lagos had maintained a united administration because of the understanding and cooperation between him and Hamzat over the past seven years.
Sanwo-Olu added that the deputy governor had been involved in the administration’s major decisions and development projects, making him familiar with the responsibilities and challenges of governing the state.
He urged Hamzat, if elected, to sustain the administration’s projects, remain attentive to residents’ concerns and ensure that no Lagosian was marginalised because of their background or place of origin.
Obafemi Hamzat, popularly known as KOH, is seeking to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor of Lagos State in 2027, banking on his extensive experience in public service and familiarity with the state’s governance structure. A trained engineer, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural engineering from the University of Ibadan and a doctorate in systems process engineering from Cranfield University, United Kingdom. He was appointed commissioner for science and technology in 2005 by former Governor Bola Tinubu and later served as commissioner for works and infrastructure under Babatunde Fashola before becoming deputy governor in 2019, a position he retained after securing re-election in 2023.
