With a 100-point growth blueprint outlining his imaginative and prescient for the Centre of Excellence, the All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has positioned accountability, continuity and inclusive growth on the centre of his marketing campaign, difficult residents to carry him accountable for each unfulfilled promise. Wale Igbintade stories.
The environment on the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, previously the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Friday, October 30, was unmistakably political, cultural and symbolic.
Thousands of occasion trustworthy, residents, political stakeholders and invited company gathered to witness the disclosing of the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat. Others adopted the proceedings by way of stay broadcasts, extending the occasion’s attain past the venue.
The vibrant cultural performances celebrating Lagos’ wealthy heritage, coupled with the presence of outstanding political leaders, conventional rulers, spiritual figures and captains of business, underscored the importance of the event.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who attended as particular visitor of honour along with his spouse, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, was joined by former Governor Babatunde Fashola, members of the National Assembly, Lagos State House of Assembly, the Governance Advisory Council, conventional rulers and different political leaders.
But past the spectacular gathering, the central attraction was Hamzat’s try to outline the subsequent chapter of Lagos’ growth journey.
His manifesto, titled ‘The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko)’, is structured round seven pillars and 100 pledges protecting healthcare, training, infrastructure, transportation, financial growth, employment, safety, housing, environmental sustainability and institutional accountability.
Its central philosophy was captured in a easy however weighty declaration: A promise is a debt.
In what emerged because the strongest political assertion of the event, Hamzat challenged Lagosians to carry him accountable for each dedication contained within the doc.
“I stand before you today not simply to ask for your vote, but to earn your trust, to share my vision for Lagos, to explain what I believe that we must do differently, and to demonstrate why I am prepared to serve you,” he declared.
The Man Behind the Mission
Hamzat’s presentation was not restricted to coverage proposals. He supplied glimpses into the non-public experiences and values that, in keeping with him, have formed his understanding of public service.
He recalled encountering the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was 14 years previous and a scholar at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo. Awolowo’s marketing campaign procession had handed alongside the street in entrance of his college, giving him a possibility to see the legendary progressive politician at shut vary.
The expertise, he mentioned, left a permanent impression on him, notably the philosophy {that a} nation progresses when individuals of honour and potential select to serve.
His political consciousness was additionally formed by his father, Alhaji Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, a banker who later turned concerned in progressive politics. Elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1979, his father subsequently served as Commissioner for Public Transportation beneath the administration of the late Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Hamzat additionally recalled his childhood in Mushin, the place he attended Odu-Abore Memorial Primary School. Those early experiences, he defined, uncovered him to the on a regular basis challenges confronting strange Lagos residents.
“Mushin taught me many things. I learned what a clear drain means to a street during the rainy season. I learned what steady light means to a trader at four in the afternoon,” he mentioned.
For him, growth shouldn’t be merely about setting up spectacular infrastructure or asserting bold programmes. It should enhance the on a regular basis lives of residents.
He illustrated this with the story of a 10-year-old boy he encountered beneath a bridge at Oshodi at about 2 a.m. The little one, who had reportedly run away from dwelling in one other state as a result of his surroundings was unsafe, had discovered sleeping beneath a bridge preferable to returning dwelling.
The expertise strengthened Hamzat’s conviction that authorities should defend weak youngsters by way of functioning colleges, healthcare amenities, social welfare establishments and efficient group assist.
“If you are a child and you live in Lagos, then you are a child of Lagos. Lagos will know you are here, Lagos will work for you, Lagos will protect you,” he declared.
He mentioned his mother and father had instilled three ideas in him: respect, work and fact. Respect means treating residents with dignity; work requires supply earlier than publicity; whereas fact calls for honesty about authorities efficiency.
Seven Pillars, 100 Pledges
The manifesto’s seven pillars are People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Excellence.
A notable function is its classification of the 100 commitments into 87 agency pledges inside the powers of the Lagos State Government and 13 aspirations requiring wider consultations, cooperation with the Federal Government or judicial intervention.
To strengthen accountability, Hamzat promised to determine a Lagos State Service Delivery Office by way of an government order, with himself as chairman.
An unbiased Performance Council would assess authorities efficiency, whereas service charters can be launched throughout public workplaces.
Under the proposed association, complaints can be acknowledged inside 48 hours, answered inside seven days and resolved inside 30 days. Annual efficiency stories and public scorecards would additionally disclose achievements, excellent commitments and causes for any failures.
He promised that the accountability framework would start inside his first 100 days in workplace.
Healthcare and training occupy outstanding positions within the blueprint. Hamzat promised to extend maternal and little one centres from 10 to fifteen and broaden the Ilera Eko medical health insurance programme from practically two million beneficiaries to greater than three million.
He additionally pledged to finish the 150-bed Massey Children’s Hospital, the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital and the 150-bed Somolu General Hospital, offering 580 extra beds. Two extra basic hospitals are proposed for Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki, alongside the upgrading of 100 major healthcare centres.
On training, he promised to strengthen public colleges by way of improved trainer coaching, skilled growth and higher studying outcomes. He highlighted EKOEXCEL and the Eko Learn initiative, which supplies 320 classes on-line and on tv.
He additionally proposed establishing a University of Medicine and Health Sciences to broaden tertiary training alternatives and strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce.
Jobs, Infrastructure and Economic Growth
Recognising the significance of small companies and entrepreneurship to Lagos’ economic system, Hamzat argued that authorities can not create all the roles required by the state’s rising inhabitants. Rather, it should present an surroundings by which companies can broaden and make use of extra individuals.
He cited the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund’s assist for companies by way of financing, coaching and mentorship, promising to broaden alternatives for entrepreneurs, artisans and younger individuals.
Among his proposals is a single schedule of lawful authorities fees to eradicate uncertainty for companies. He additionally promised to order an outlined proportion of state procurement alternatives for certified Lagos companies.
Under a proposed apprenticeship programme, college students would spend between six and 12 months working with employers, with the state paying 40 per cent of their stipends. Artisans would additionally obtain free skilled certification primarily based on their present sensible expertise.
For younger individuals, he pledged to broaden alternatives in synthetic intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, blockchain and different rising applied sciences.
Transportation, one in every of Lagos’ most urgent challenges, acquired appreciable consideration.
Hamzat promised to extend the general public bus fleet from roughly 1,000 to 4,000 buses, with the capability to move a million passengers every day.
He additionally pledged to increase the Blue Line to Okokomaiko, advance the Green Line from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone and enhance connections between the present rail corridors.
Other proposed tasks embrace the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the Regional Road alongside the Lekki-Epe axis and Phase II of the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge.
On water transportation, he promised to dredge an extra 140 kilometres of waterways, refurbish 25 ferry terminals and jetties, optimise 15 ferry routes and procure 75 extra electrical vessels.
Housing is one other main part. Hamzat promised to finish ongoing housing tasks, broaden Lagos HOMS and introduce extra accessible mortgage preparations.
One proposal is a mortgage scheme requiring a ten per cent deposit, single-digit rates of interest and longer compensation durations, doubtlessly bettering entry to dwelling possession for center and lower-income earners.
On safety, he pledged to increase the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency to all wards throughout the state’s 20 native authorities areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
He additionally proposed putting in streetlights and CCTV cameras in communities and establishing a State Intelligence Fusion Centre to strengthen responses to organised crime, cybercrime and different safety threats.
Water provide and environmental sustainability additionally featured prominently.
Hamzat promised to finish the Adiyan Phase Two water undertaking, designed to provide 70 million gallons every day and present water to an extra six million Lagos residents.
He additionally pledged to rehabilitate 24 micro and mini waterworks and obtain 95 per cent waste assortment protection, alongside the completion of waste switch stations and a waste-to-energy facility.
On inclusion, he promised to strengthen programmes comparable to Obirin Eko for ladies, Omo Eko for younger individuals and Iyi Eko for individuals with disabilities, sustaining that Lagos should work for everybody, regardless of ethnic, spiritual or geographical background.
First 100 Days
Hamzat recognized three instant priorities for his proposed administration.
The first is the institution of a Child Protection and Nutrition Agency to make sure that each little one under 18 is both at school or studying a commerce and receives enough vitamin.
The second is the Lagos State Service Delivery Office, which might monitor authorities commitments and present measurable assessments of efficiency.
The third is the development of a State Wealth Fund, with an unbiased board and printed accounts, to protect Lagos’ wealth for future generations.
Together, the proposals replicate the manifesto’s emphasis on little one welfare, institutional accountability and long-term financial sustainability.
Sanwo-Olu’s Endorsement and Politics of Continuity
While Hamzat offered the coverage route, Sanwo-Olu’s tackle provided a lot of the political and emotional weight of the event.
In a deeply private endorsement, the governor recalled how Hamzat had stepped apart for him throughout the 2018 governorship contest after occasion leaders intervened and requested him to withdraw from the race.
Sanwo-Olu mentioned Hamzat had appreciable expertise and each motive to pursue his ambition, having served in public workplace for years. However, he accepted the occasion’s choice and subsequently agreed to turn out to be his working mate.
“I did not come here to be polite. I came here to testify,” the governor declared.
He mentioned his endorsement was primarily based on seven years of working intently with Hamzat, notably throughout difficult durations such because the COVID-19 pandemic, the October 2020 disaster and the execution of main infrastructure tasks.
He described his deputy as a reliable companion who was concerned within the technical discussions, planning and negotiations behind authorities tasks.
Sanwo-Olu’s strongest argument for Hamzat’s candidacy was constructed across the metaphor of a relay race.
He described Lagos governance as a steady journey by which successive administrations should put together to obtain the baton earlier than the outgoing authorities completes its tenure.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu ran the primary leg, passing the baton to Fashola in 2007. Fashola handed it to Akinwunmi Ambode in 2015, whereas Sanwo-Olu acquired it in 2019.
Hamzat, he argued, had been working alongside the administration since 2019 and was due to this fact effectively positioned to proceed the journey.
“Lagosians have never before been offered a man who ran this long, this close, beside the governor he hopes to succeed,” he mentioned.
The governor additionally recalled Hamzat’s earlier service as Commissioner for Science and Technology beneath Tinubu and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure beneath Fashola.
He argued that these experiences gave the APC candidate an understanding of the state’s administrative equipment and growth priorities.
Acknowledging criticism that Lagos had persistently produced governors from inside the similar political institution, Sanwo-Olu defended the state’s succession mannequin.
“Lagos trains its people. There is a difference,” he mentioned.
He maintained that continuity was mandatory to finish main tasks, together with the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport and ongoing rail expansions.
But he was cautious to tell apart continuity from complacency.
“Continuity does not mean repeating ourselves. It means finishing what was started, fixing what is not working, and starting what comes next, in that order, with a plan,” he declared.
In an emotional reflection on the approaching transition, Sanwo-Olu mentioned his biggest achievement is perhaps Lagos altering governors and not using a political quarrel.
“Lagos is going to change governors without a quarrel,” he mentioned.
His endorsement successfully offered Hamzat’s candidacy as a possibility to consolidate the political and developmental custom established by successive administrations.
The Test Beyond the Manifesto
For all its ambition, the last word significance of Hamzat’s manifesto won’t be decided by the grandeur of its presentation or the applause that greeted its unveiling. It might be measured by implementation.
Increasing the bus fleet to 4,000, extending potable water to 6 million extra residents, increasing medical health insurance, setting up hospitals and bettering reasonably priced housing would require substantial monetary sources, administrative self-discipline and efficient coordination.
The proposed single-digit mortgage association will rely upon sustainable financing buildings, whereas the enlargement of public transportation would require environment friendly upkeep and integration of street, rail and water networks.
The proposed State Wealth Fund will equally require clear governance and safeguards towards political interference.
More importantly, the promised accountability framework will solely be significant if the federal government is ready to publish unfavourable efficiency assessments when it falls wanting its commitments.
For strange Lagosians, the true check might be whether or not commuting turns into simpler, healthcare extra accessible, public colleges more practical, companies face fewer obstacles and youngsters take pleasure in better safety.
The dealer at Alaba, the artisan in Ebute Metta, the commuter travelling from Badagry to Lagos Island, the workplace employee commuting every day from Berger to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), and the household struggling to safe reasonably priced lodging will finally decide the proposed administration by the distinction it makes to their on a regular basis lives.
As the October 30 gathering drew to a detailed, Hamzat’s message was unmistakable: public service have to be anchored on respect, work and fact, whereas political guarantees should carry the burden of obligation.
His private journey, administrative expertise and Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement shaped the inspiration of the argument for continuity. But the citizens can have the ultimate say..
The manifesto has positioned an bold growth blueprint earlier than Lagosians and supplied a proposed mechanism by way of which they’ll monitor its implementation.
Whether these guarantees turn out to be measurable achievements will rely upon the electoral course of and, finally, the efficiency of the subsequent administration.
For Hamzat, the problem is to show that the promise offered on the historic Wole Soyinka Centre can face up to the calls for of governing one in every of Africa’s most complicated megacities.
Lagos has heard the promise. The subsequent check is supply.
