Hamzat Steps Down From Lagos Guber Race, Declares Support For Ambode’s Rival, Sanwo-Olu

Ahead of the APC Lagos Primaries, which has been scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 30th, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Dr. Femi Hamzat, has withdrawn from the race.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s bid for a second term as governor of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, has been threatened further as rival aspirant, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat withdrew from the contest to support Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, another rival of Ambode.

Hamzat was the candidate of the Justice Forum while Sanwo-Olu represents the Mandate Group. Both groups are the major political blocs in the Lagos State chapter of the APC. He stepped down at a press conference this morning after a visit to the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of Sanwo-Olu.

Hamzat said he took the decision to support the ambition of another governorship aspirant, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He also directed his supporters to cast their votes for Sanwo-Olu during the party’s primary tomorrow. According to him, he can vouch for Sanwo-Olu’s integrity and personal intelligence. The video is below :

Sanwo-Olu, who was also at the event, would tomorrow contest the party’s governorship ticket with the incumbent governor, Akinwunmi  Ambode. Party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is being expected to speak on the developments in the Lagos chapter of the party at the APC secretariat later today. Party operatives are already gathering. More details to come.

In August 2005, Dr. Hamzat, popularly known as Femi Hamzat was appointed Commissioner for Science and Technology during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Dr. Hamzat retained his position when Governor Babatunde Fashola assumed office in 2007. It was during his tenure as Commissioner for Science and Technology that Dr. Hamzat 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 trend of state ghost workers.

It is reported in some quarters that this single act was largely responsible for his elevation as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure at the commencement of the second term in office of the Governor Fashola’s administration. The office had gone on without a commissioner during Fashola’s first four years (post-Rauf Aregbesola’s appointment), with only a Special Adviser reporting directly to the governor.

In execution of his mandate, Dr. Hamzat’s ministry has completed several key projects for Lagos State in the mega-city era. Of key importance is the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency framework. Widely acclaimed as Lagos State’s answer to the U.S. social security number, the agency was established to create a useful database of all residents in Lagos State with a view to, among others, providing useful information for social welfare, political, security, business, employment and financial activities.

Governor Babatunde Fashola passed the mandate and developed the frame work for implementation of the agency to Dr. Hamzat after he (Governor Fashola) had conceived the idea with then Governor Bola Tinubu.