The political landscape leading up to Nigeria's next general elections has witnessed an early and decisive intellectual salvo from the economic nerve center of the country. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who also stands as the All Progressives Congress official gubernatorial flagbearer for the upcoming 2027 executive elections in the state, has launched a critique against opposition politicians eyeing the presidency. Speaking on Sunday, July 5, 2026, Hamzat asserted that a significant majority of the political aspirants currently positioning themselves to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 cycle fundamentally lack the requisite long-term vision, administrative depth, and strategic foresight necessary to drive meaningful, sustainable national transformation across the West African nation.
The deputy governor delivered these remarks during a high-profile interactive session with members of the All Progressives Congress State Chairmen’s Forum. The party chairmen, representing various states across the federation, were in Lagos for a comprehensive oversight tour of legacy infrastructural projects that have redefined the state's economy over the past two decades. Following their inspection of these massive engineering and economic sites, the forum members paid a courtesy visit to Hamzat at his official residence in the high-brow Ikoyi district of Lagos, providing a relaxed yet politically charged atmosphere for deep institutional reflections.
Addressing the wave of criticisms continually directed at President Tinubu’s macroeconomic reforms and governance style by various opposition figures and presidential hopefuls, Hamzat maintained that true leadership is defined by the capacity to see solutions where others only perceive crises. He pointed out that many individuals seeking the highest office in the land do not possess the historical or structural understanding required to govern an entity as complex as Nigeria effectively. He emphasized that the nation is fortunate to have a leader with rare foresight, noting that many contemporary critics simply lacked the intellectual capacity to comprehend what Tinubu envisioned for Lagos and Nigeria decades ago.
In describing the administrative philosophy of the president, Hamzat highlighted Tinubu's unique approach to human capital management and intellectual inclusivity. He painted a picture of a leader who aggressively encourages innovation, constructive debate, and intellectual contributions from subordinates, regardless of their age, status, or political standing. Before the president, Hamzat explained, no individual or idea is considered too insignificant. He noted that within Tinubu's leadership circle, if a subordinate presents a superior, data-driven idea, it immediately takes precedence over preexisting plans, including the president’s own initial perspectives. This open-door policy, according to the deputy governor, creates an environment where transformative concepts can mature into actionable public policies.
A key example of this visionary governance, Hamzat argued, was Tinubu’s pioneering decision during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State to bypass traditional, slow-moving bureaucratic ministries in favor of establishing highly specialized, autonomous agencies. This structural shift was informed by the firm belief that dedicated institutions, staffed by technocrats and insulated from routine civil service bottlenecks, could achieve far more effective and rapid results. This institutional model, which gave birth to agencies like the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, has since been studied and replicated across various states and at the federal level to enhance revenue generation and public service delivery.
The deputy governor emphasized that several of the most significant, transformative infrastructure projects currently altering the economic geography of both Lagos and the wider Nigerian federation are the direct products of Tinubu’s multi-decade strategic planning. He specifically cited monumental initiatives such as the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system, the sprawling Lekki Free Trade Zone, the ocean-reclaiming Eko Atlantic City project, the newly initiated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the expansive Badagry-Sokoto Highway. Hamzat explained to the visiting party chairmen that these multi-billion-dollar investments are intentionally designed to be far more than mere transportation or real estate ventures. Instead, they serve as deliberate industrial corridors intended to stimulate manufacturing, attract direct foreign investments, and physically interconnect the diverse regions of Nigeria.
According to Hamzat, the long-term benefits of these synchronized infrastructure networks will manifest in enhanced internal trade, deepened national unity, and a significant reduction in the cost of doing business across West Africa. He argued that President Tinubu’s proven capacity to attract both domestic and international investors does not happen by accident; rather, it stems directly from a consistent history of predictable economic policies and a transparent developmental vision that assures capital providers of long-term security and returns.
Shifting his focus to internal party dynamics, Hamzat utilized the forum to deliver a vital message on political cohesion and institutional harmony. He strongly urged the APC state chairmen to maintain close, collaborative, and transparent working relationships with their respective state governors. He stressed that the state chairmen represent the foundational backbone of the party structure, and any friction between the political party leadership and the executive arm of government could severely undermine governance and erode public trust.
The deputy governor also extended a broader piece of advice to all elected public office holders across the country, calling on them to recognize the supreme importance of political parties in sustaining a healthy democratic governance model. He advised Nigerian politicians to draw valuable institutional lessons from established Western democracies, where party discipline, ideological loyalty, and structural supremacy are strictly maintained. He insisted that the party must remain the vehicle through which governance blueprints are vetted and executed, ensuring that every elected official understands the core value and platform that facilitated their ascent to power.
In his concluding remarks, Hamzat charged political leaders at all tiers of government to remain completely transparent, empathetic, and accountable to the citizenry, reminding them of the heavy moral weight associated with public service. He admonished the gathering that as leaders working toward rebuilding the country under challenging global economic conditions, they cannot afford to fail the Nigerian people. More importantly, he reminded them that beyond their accountability to voters and political parties, every leader would ultimately stand before God to answer for their stewardship and the manner in which they managed the resources and destinies of the people entrusted to their care.
