Tinubu’s Hamzat Crown: Why Ambode’s “Second Chance” is Already in the Mortuary
My people, Na wetin be dis again this time Lagos politics? Just when you think the godfatherism don tire small, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don drop another bombshell: the next governor of Lagos State after Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027 go be Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. No be rumour o. No be social media gist. Na the clear signal from the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) meetings, from Faleke’s open endorsement, from Pa Tajudeen Olusi’s own mouth, and from the way Hamzat don already begin quiet consultations like man wey know say the throne don already get owner.
Make I ask you straight: Na so democracy go dey work for this our country? One man for Abuja go just decide who go rule Lagos like say e be family business? The same Lagos wey we dey call “Centre of Excellence” don turn into Tinubu’s personal inheritance? Chai. My belle dey pain me.
You know the kind of frustration I dey talk about. The market woman for Mile 12 wey under the scorching sun, just to provide an imbalanced diet to survive another day . The okada rider for Oshodi wey dey dodge LASTMA and fuel scarcity every day. The young boy for Ajah wey graduate with first class but no job except to dey drive bolt. Dem no dey ask who go be governor. Dem just dey suffer the result of decisions wey dem no get input. And now, the same oga at the top wey suppose represent “progressive” politics don turn the whole thing into royal appointment, and you may call it any other name except being chosen through credible party primary elections.
Let me give you the quick gist wey plenty people dey ignore. Akinwunmi Ambode no be stranger to this game. He served one term, tried to do things his own way – some people say e too technocratic, some say e no balance the godfathers well. But the real crime? He fell out with the Tinubu machine. Dem no give am second term. Sanwo-Olu come take over smooth smooth. Now Ambode dey eye comeback like man wey dey seek redemption. Him camp even dey claim say dem get Tinubu blessing after the last GAC meeting. But reality? The signals dey loud and clear: Hamzat na the anointed one. Faleke don already direct support. Olusi don practically name am. Even Hamzat’s late father – that respected Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Tinubu’s own mentor and godfather from the old Justice Forum days – don become the emotional trump card. Blood no dey lie, dem dey say.
This na pure godfatherism in technocratic clothing.
Make we no deceive ourselves. Hamzat get pedigree. He served under Tinubu as commissioner. He served under Fashola. He dey with Sanwo-Olu now. He get institutional memory. He no dey make noise. But the real point be say: this choice no based on who get the best blueprint for Lagos traffic, for housing, for the suffering masses wey dey pay tax but no see road, no see light, no see water. Na based on loyalty, lineage, and control. Tinubu no wan risk another “Ambode rebellion.” He wan continuity wey go protect the empire he built since 1999.
Remember history small. When Tinubu hand over to Fashola, e smooth. Fashola to Ambode? Small crack. Ambode to Sanwo-Olu? Dem patch am quick quick. Now Sanwo-Olu to Hamzat? E go be the smoothest transition ever – because Hamzat no go forget say him no be independent king. Him na extension of the Tinubu dynasty. And Ambode? The man wey dem already sideline once? Him second chance don enter mortuary before even the primary begin. Dem go allow am contest maybe, but the structure don already seal. Na the same way dem do am in 2019. The suffering masses go clap, the diaspora go argue on Twitter, but the real decision don already land from Aso Rock.
And this na the tragedy of Lagos politics.
We get one of the most sophisticated states for Africa – economy bigger than some countries – yet our leaders dey treat am like village throne wey only one family fit sit on. The same APC wey dey shout “democracy” for federal level dey run Lagos like military cantonment. No primary wey real. No debate wey open. Just “oga don talk.” And the worst part? Plenty of our people go still defend am. “E get experience,” dem go say. “E get structure,” dem go add. But structure for wetin? To continue the same old wahala wey make generator dey roar like lion for every house? To make sure the real power no ever leave the inner circle?
Ambode get record. He try. Some people still hail am for infrastructure wey him build. But the moment e try to be him own man, dem cut am off like bad branch. Now dem dey do the same dance again with Hamzat as the “safe” choice. The message clear: In Tinubu’s Lagos, loyalty first, competence second, the people last last.
My brothers and sisters, this our country don reach point wey we must stop pretending. If the godfather can decide Lagos governor from Aso Rock like this, then wetin go happen to the rest of the country? 2027 no be just election. Na referendum on whether we go continue this monarchy style or we go demand real internal democracy inside the parties. The suffering masses – the okada man, the market woman, the frustrated youth – una get power o. Una vote na the only thing dem no fit control completely yet.
Wake up before dem turn Lagos into permanent family property. Share this truth. Talk am for your WhatsApp groups. Ask the hard questions. Because if we no challenge this now, 2027 go just be another coronation – not election. And the real losers? Na we wey dey pay the price every single day.
God help this country. But we sef must help ourselves first.
#blogjohnson
