{
  "id": 17621977,
  "title": "'If not for Hamzat, I wouldn't be governor' - Sanwo-Olu opens up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/if-not-for-hamzat-i-wouldnt-be-governor-sanwo-olu-opens-up",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T14:12:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/01/if-not-for-hamzat-i-wouldnt-be-governor-sanwo-olu-opens-up/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed the pivotal role played by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, in his path to becoming governor in 2019. Speaking at an event in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu recounted how Hamzat voluntarily stepped aside during the contentious 2018 All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primaries, allowing him to assume the coveted ticket. Hamzat was one of the front-runners for the position, boasting significant support throughout the state, but Sanwo-Olu chose to prioritize the party's interests over his personal ambitions. \"If not for Hamzat, I wouldn't be governor today,\" the governor declared emotionally. Hamzat not only relinquished his aspirations but also rallied his supporters to champion Sanwo-Olu's candidacy, a decisive factor that secured his victory in both the primary and the subsequent general elections. The governor praised Hamzat as a true friend, a steadfast deputy, and a man of remarkable humility, lamenting that many politicians would not have made such a selfless sacrifice. \"Hamzat is a dependable partner,\" Sanwo-Olu emphasized. \"He has been with me through thick and thin. He is loyal and very humble. What he did for me in 2018, I will never forget.\"",
  "summary": "Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has finally opened up on the role his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, played in his emergence as governor in 2019. Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at an event held in Lagos, narrated how Hamzat voluntarily stepped aside for him during the heated 2018 All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primaries that saw him replace […] 'If not for Hamzat, I wouldn't be governor' -…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}