12th February, 2013
Indications have emerged that politicians and technocrats serving in different capacities at the federal and state levels, have started scheming for the Lagos State governorship ticket, less than three years to the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Prominent among the contenders are Senator Ganiyu Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District; Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; ex-Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
Other eyeing the seat include Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives; former Governor Bola Tinubu’s aide-de-camp, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; past Accountant-General of the state, Mr. Akin Ambode and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye.
Among the contenders, it is only the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, who has declared his governorship ambition come 2015.
This is the first time that an intending governorship aspirant in the state, irrespective of political party would come out to indicate interest in the Lagos governorship race in 2015.
Others who had been previously quoted as nursing a similar ambition have had cause to deny it for one political reason or the other.
Speaking on an interactive programme recently, Solomon, said with his experience and developmental vision over the years, he was more than prepared to take the state further.
The former chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, had over the years, moved from the House of Representatives where he represented Mushin Federal Constituency I for four years to the Senate where he is currently serving a second term in office.
Justifying his ambition to become the next governor of the state, Solomon who is by this decision giving the governorship a second shot, said, “I have the experience and I am convinced that I will take the state further from where it is now.”