As political stakeholders continue to endorse Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat ahead of 2027 gubernatorial race, many residents say the next governor must prioritise improved living conditions.

Some residents said on Sunday that endorsements alone would not deliver results but capacity, dedication and selfless service, urging that continuity of governance in Lagos must translate into visible impacts.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and some other political heavyweights had publicly expressed support for Mr Hamzat’s governorship aspiration.

The Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC) recently endorsed Mr Hamzat as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos. 

The political stakeholders described the endorsements as a strategy to ensure peace, unity and continuity of good governance in Lagos State.

 Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, a human rights advocate and President of Women Arise and Centre for Change, said that although endorsement amplified an entrenched idea of orderliness and unity within a political party, democracy thrived on alternatives.

Mrs Okei-Odumakin said that endorsement of a consensus candidate could prevent wastage of money on purchasing nomination forms.

On concerns that consensus candidacy could entrench politics of “anointed candidacy” and shut out competent hands, she likened political parties to families with the prerogative to field their best hands.

She said, “Political party affairs are considered a family affair.

“Every family knows its members and their strengths and weaknesses.

“It is therefore the duty of the leadership of a family or party to put up her best representative when duty calls.”

She, however, said that variety had been the beauty of democracy.

“Should there be anyone who feels disenfranchised with the idea of consensus candidacy, he will have to seek alignment in another party.”

She urged that whoever would take over the leadership of the state should run a women and girls-focused government with implementation of affirmative action.

She advised that the next governor of Lagos State should publish budgets of ministries, departments and agencies on their websites for citizens engagement and project monitoring.

She urged governance with empathy, urging improved access to potable water, more efficient mass transit systems and ban on pupils using textbooks as workbooks.

Mrs Okei-Odumakin stressed that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, must lead in transparency, inclusion and people-centred governance.

 A veteran journalist and political analyst, Mr Wale Ojetimi, expressed confidence that Mr Hamzat would govern Lagos well, if elected, due to his more than 20 years experience in Lagos public service.

He advised that the next Lagos State governor should priotise speedy completion of the Mile 2-Okokomaiko section of the Blue Line Rail, enhanced water transport, and making Lagos cleaner and greener.

He also called for a dedicated flood control agency and an independent power plant to provide stable electricity.

 A marketing strategist, Mr Lawal Lanre-Idowu, said that Mr Hamzat’s experience and loyalty should qualify him to be Lagos State’s next governor, but added that effectiveness and measurable impact were the major interests of Lagos residents.

“People typically expect continued investment in roads, rail, bridges, flood control, and the Blue/Red Line Rail systems,” he said.

Mr Lanre-Idowu called for affordable housing schemes, stronger enforcement of master plans, better Bus Rapid Transit operations, and policies supporting small and medium enterprises, tech startups and youth employment.

A lawyer, Miss Adetayo Adedeji, said she was not bothered about endorsement of any candidate but said that whoever would emerge the next governor of Lagos State should not take voters for granted.

She said that the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation should be upheld by the next governor.

“The state government should tackle dirts on the streets of Lagos State.

“People who dump refuse indiscriminately should be fined,” Adedeji said.

She said that a smart megacity should begin with cleanliness, not just bridges and high-rise buildings.

A trader, Mrs Grace Omotosho, said that endorsements would mean a lot when the endorsed candidate would make life better for the residents, if elected.

 “I don’t mind who the stakeholders endorse. What I am interested in is my children going to school without fear. I also want to sleep without light going off. I also don’t want high rent to chase me out of my shop,” she said. 

(NAN)