Hamzat Flags Off Gov Campaign

Jamiu Yisa

All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship hopeful and Lagos State Commissioner for Works, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has said that the state deserves nothing but the best governor in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

Hamzat made the remark Tuesday while addressing APC leaders in Ojo Local Government Area, during the flag-off of his governorship campaign tour of 20 local councils and the 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state.

He said APC has a fine collection of aspirants with experience vying for the same position, adding that his experience at the executive level will give him advantage ahead of others.

“Our party is very lucky to have very good aspirants that have experience, but what I will say is that my experience at the executive level will single me out.

“The constitution imposes three tiers of government, that is, the executive, legislature and judiciary, but it is the executive that implements projects. It is not that all other components are not important but it is the executive that build roads, hospitals, provides water, among others. I have been fortunate to be involved in government since 2005 so I know what to do.”

Hamzat laments the present challenge in the country, saying that this was so because the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre has failed to provide the right leadership for the country.

“The average person in Nigeria gets about 15watts and meanwhile we need about 150watts. Our nation should not have the kind of problem we are having today. We have a government of PDP in this country for 15 years and we don’t have change in our power supply,” he said.

He acknowledged the need for all hands to be on deck and work for the success of the party, saying that the area is long due to have a general hospital.

Hamzat said Lagos has 9,199 roads and since assuming the seat of power as the Commissioner for Works, his government has worked on about 3,000 roads so far.

While speaking on the delay on road repairs in some axis, Hamzat said the role of the community and financial expenses are some of the logistic reasons why development is at a slow pace.

Later in the day, at a media parley in Lagos, Hamzat said he’s very optimistic of clinching the party’s ticket in November during its primary.

According to him, he has what it takes to govern Lagos, adding that “APC is blessed with many outstanding aspirants and among them, there would be rating to pick the best and I think I am that person.”

He said although the challenges are enormous, he would confront them headlong to ensure that the achievement recorded so far in the state are not reversed.

He said sustainable technology would enable his administration surmount the challenges of governance, adding that his agenda for Lagos is anchored on “Building A State That Lasts”.

Part or the programme on the agenda, he said, include: building a knowledge-based economy, encouraging technical education because no nation can survive without it, improving rail transportation for mass movement of people, and massive investment in infrastructure to attract investors to the state.

Hamzat played down the issue of religion as a factor in determining who clinches the party’s ticket, saying great leaders were not measured by their religious backgrounds but by how they transformed their societies.