2023 Polls: Sanwo-Olu Seeks New Deputy As Hamzat Eyes Senate

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – As political permutations and horse-trading gather momentum ahead of the 2023 general elections, there are strong indications that the official residence of Lagos State Deputy Governor in Ikoyi is warming up to receive and host a new occupant.

The development is said to have thrown up the desperate search for a new hand to pair with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as he prepares for a return ticket to the Government House, Alausa

Interestingly, feelers emerging from the inner circles of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State chapter indicate that the incumbent Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Jaji is being primed to replace incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as the running mate to Governor Sanwo-Olu for the 2023 gubernatorial poll.

According to insiders, Dr Hamzat is seriously eyeing the Lagos West Senatorial district on the APC platform to replace the current occupant of that seat, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, popularly called, Yayi, whose relocation to the Ogun West district has been confirmed by some party officials.

Competent sources hinted that Jaji is being considered APC’s choice to occupy the Deputy Governorship position for gender balancing that would give a voice and attract massive support from the womenfolk whose voting power cannot be underestimated.

The sources said the development will certainly give women a sense of belonging against the backdrop that previous administrations in the state, including immediate past governors, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode, were all deputized by women.

Also, in looking at Jaji’s direction, our inside source hinted that the ruling party is considering the electoral value of a woman that many admirers described as politically savvy and experienced given her exposure as a former Head of Service (HoS) in the state.

For the incumbent Deputy Governor, Hamzat, whose initial aspiration was the Governorship before the powers that be reshaped it to the senatorial seat, rumours have long circulated that he is working on relocating to Epe after the first tenure with Governor Sanwo-Olu.

Amid the party’s re-engineering and stakeholders’ negotiations ahead of the 2023 elections, the state power bloc advised him to relocate to Ifako/Ijaiye and join the race for the Lagos West Senatorial district soon to become vacant with the incumbent, Senator Olamilekan, changing his place of abode to Ogun state.

But the battle to take over from Olamilekan as the Senator representing Lagos West is already in top gear with notable political figures in the state throwing their hats into the senatorial contest. Among those expected to give Deputy Governor Hamzat a run for his money are former Minister of Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, whose colourful posters are already adorning the nooks and cranny of the Senatorial district and former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa.

With the list still growing across party lines, others being touted as aspirants in the senatorial race are Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, and Dr. Oluranti Idiat Adebule, both former Deputy governors of Lagos State. Orelope-Adefulire was Deputy Governor between 29 May 2011, and May 29, 2015, while Oluranti Adebule was in office from 29 May 2015 to 27 May 2019

Given his rich political background and credentials, Dr Hamzat, who emerged the winner of the fifth edition of the Lagos State Man of the Year Awards in September 2013, is being favoured by key APC stakeholders to clinch the senatorial ticket as compensation for party loyalty, particularly for heeding their counsel to step down during the 2019 party primaries for Sanwo-Olu who eventually became the party’s nominee, and later Governor-Elect.

Appointed Commissioner for Science and Technology during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2005, Dr Hamzat retained the position when Governor Babatunde Fashola assumed office in 2007. Indeed, many still remember his tenure as one that enforced the application of modern technology in the State’s ministries, thus changing the face of data and record keeping in Lagos and at the same time eliminating the worrying trend of state ghost workers in the Centre of Excellence.

However, competent sources insist that the Presidential ambition of the APC National Leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu would be counting much in deciding who takes what within the State chapter of the party going forward.

It was gathered that all the foot soldiers and loyalists are expected to bring on board value addition as their Leader goes for broke in the fight to clinch the ruling party’s presidential ticket.