Nigerian journalist Rufai Oseni has urged Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat not to take his 2027 governorship prospects for granted, warning that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement alone may not be enough to secure his path to power.
Speaking on ARISE Television’s morning programme, Oseni reacted to Sanwo-Olu’s public backing of Hamzat following a closed-door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, where the deputy governor formally declared his intention to contest the governorship election before State Executive Council members and senior party figures.
While acknowledging the significance of the governor’s support, Oseni argued that the true deciding factor in Lagos politics has historically been the approval of President Bola Tinubu — widely known as “Jagaban” or “Baba.” He stressed that neither a gubernatorial endorsement nor the backing of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) carries the same weight as a direct, public declaration of support from the President.
Oseni revealed that multiple aspirants have privately told him Tinubu had endorsed them, casting doubt on the finality of any informal assurances. He advised Hamzat to remain cautious until the President openly declares his support.
Drawing on Lagos political history, Oseni referenced the political fate of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the controversy surrounding Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa — whose removal many had attributed to Tinubu, only for him to return to the position — as reminders of how unpredictable the state’s political landscape can be.
“Sanwo-Olu can endorse his deputy, and the GAC can follow suit, but based on the historical pattern of Lagos politics, if ‘Baba’ has not personally indicated that Hamzat is his choice, Hamzat should not rest easy,” Oseni said. “I’ve had many people tell me that Baba endorsed them — and I remain skeptical. When it comes to Lagos, it has always been about Jagaban.”
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