As the 2023 guber polls gains momentum, Lagosians need to take note of those who could succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in governance. Notable among them are:
Akinwumi Ambode
Ambode is an auditor, businessman and politician. He is originally from Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria. After retiring from the Lagos State Civil Service, at the age of 58, he founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited to provide semi-public, public finance and management consulting services to governments at all levels.
In 2015, he ran for governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but after defeating his closest competitor, Jimi Agbage, with more than 160,000 votes, he took over the reins from Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), but after seeing the governor lose the primary election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his re-election bid failed. He might be taking another chance to contest in 2023.
Jimi Agbaje
Agbaje, 64, was a PDP candidate for the 2015 and 2019 gubernatorial elections. He is originally from Lagos State, Nigeria. In 1982, Jimi Agbaje founded his own company, JAYKAY Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Company Ltd., and served as the Managing Director until 2005 when he decided to delve into politics. Once again, he has been named one of the main contenders for the PDP Governor’s ticket in Lagos for 2023.
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi (BOG)
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi is a Nigerian businessman, real estate developer, and politician.
He is the chairman and CEO of Redbrick Homes International Limited, the famous developer of the legendary Amen estate Ibeju Lekki in Eastern Lagos. BOG was born on October 15, 1967 in the family of the late Fatai Gbadamosi and Alhaji Jemilat Gbadamosi in England. In 2007, the company changed its name to Redbrick Homes International Ltd, and soon Amen Estate became a popular destination for local and overseas real estate sales.
After returning to Nigeria in 2007, he supported the PDP’s Senator Musiliu Obanikoro to run for the governor of Lagos State, and formally joined the PDP in 2008. In 2011 and 2015; he joined the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in 2017 and won the party’s primary election in October 2018, he was eventually the second runner-up in general election. BOG rejoined the People’s Democratic Party in March 2020.
Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat
The current Deputy Governor of Lagos State is highly respected in the political terrain.
There is no doubt, Dr. Hamzat performed well as a Commissioner for Science and Technology from 2005 to 2011, first under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and then under the government of Babatunde Raji Fashola. Hamzat has shown interest in the governorship position on multiple occasions, and he could be very well interested again leading up to 2023.
Which of Akinwumi Ambode, BOG, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, or Jimi Agbaje do you think can best replace the current governor?
