That the running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat had in 2015 refused the opportunity to work as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s running mate is an established fact.

Hamzat has now come out to explain why he rejected Ambode but accepted to work with Babajide Sanwo-Olu…

“I was not comfortable being Ambode’s running mate. I accepted the position in 2018 because I am more at home working with Sanwo-Olu. The reasons I stepped down for Sanwo-Olu is because there are various things you have to consider in governance.”

“There can only be one governorship candidate and that’s the reality. And you have to look at different dynamics in various sections of the state. In our country, you have to consider religion, because that’s where we are as a nation.”

“We have to look at different parts of the state and when I looked at all of that, I realised that it’s better for me to step down for Mr Sanwo-Olu.”

“I’ve known him for 15 years. I see him as a friend and a strong person that has the interest of the state at heart. Don’t forget that I was offered the position of the deputy governorship candidate four years ago, but I said no.”

“So for me to take up the position now, it means I’m more comfortable working with him. I believe that together we can do a good job and take the state higher from where it is today.”

“The friction that occurred within the party as a result of the primaries’ result was because it’s unique for a sitting governor of a state to be challenged, so this caused friction initially, but we understand that you can’t have democracy without democrats.”

“The constitution says a governor shall govern for four years, which is renewable, and candidates can emerge from various parties. That was what happened and it is part of the democratic credentials we must build as a nation.”

“The issue was not just with the governorship primaries; it’s the same with the House of Representatives, Senatorial and state Houses of Assembly primaries.”

“But as a party, we’ve come together and we realised it’s better for us to work as a team to keep moving Lagos forward rather than fighting ourselves internally.”