This is what you get when there is no competition – complacency.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances like an earthquake or a Venezuelan-type US invasion, Kadiri Hamzat will be the next Governor of Lagos State, the 5th largest economy in Africa
This laxity comes with complacency, which throws in lethargy and an arrogance that could run its course from pre-elections through the administration, leaving the people with nothing but another failed opportunity at HOPE
The issue of housing in the fast-growing urban enclave that is Lagos has come to the forefront
With a housing deficit of abt 3m units driven by quantitative and qualitative shortages, a booming population, and high inward daily mobility, rents have become a direct fallout of this situation
With only 31% of its residents being landlords, the remaining 69% spend between 40% and 60% of their annual incomes on rent
Now the main problem with rent is its galloping nature – on average, rents move between 20% and 40% ans some crossing the 100% mark annually depending on the location and people involved
This situation has led to a huge population outcry, with tenants being squeezed at the neck with dwindling incomes, rising cost of living and lack of basic infrastructure adding coal in the fire that is living in Lagos
Stakeholders have given reasons, including the cost of materials, jumping valuations of land, and increasing finance costs for the nightmare situation
Landlords have taken advantage and have all become Malthusian in their approach to the situation
So for the incoming, this was a unique opportunity to jump in and show strong resolve
But alas, he missed it. His reported refrain has been dismissed by all stakeholders and the media as being too standoffish and emotionally detached
He is quoted as having advised young people to stay with their parents until they are financially strong enough to break out
This statement was more emotional, as it didn’t seem to have come out from a well-thought-out policy push
It is a by-product of the complacency that I had mentioned earlier, where, come rain or shine, he would be at Alausa calling the shots
If there was competition and a hot race, he would have assembled a think tank pulled from all contending tendencies to look very deeply at the situation and come out with a policy that he would be presenting to the electorate
Instead of talking about probable solutions like opening up new towns, robust infrastructural development like roads, etc linking new towns, more intra-city trains that would ease commutes, rebates, waivers, etc., we are getting a comedic response from a seasoned and most likely the most brilliant technocrat that has passed through the Lagos Government conveyor belt.
Hamzat has to do better than this. He not only missed on this issue, but he also missed on some other issues where his inexperience arrowheading a major campaign like this is showing
He should calm down and begin to respect the people.
Even if we had no say in his emergence, he would still need us to build a sound legacy.
He must also always remember that Lagos parades a long line of gubernatorial giants – from Lateef Jakande, thru President Bola Tinubu, super achiever Tunde Fashola, magnetic Ambode and the brilliant SANWO-OLU and as such he must bring out his A game if he is going to stand shoulder by shoulder with these giants who have laid solid performance indices that cannot be matched with the spirit of complacency that is beginning to show
KOH, as his fans call him, no doubt represents a crop of relatively young and brilliant technocrats coming out of the leadership pipeline of Lagos, and as such his choice remains very impressive, especially to the people who ‘selected’ him, but for people like me, who remain sceptical of his candidature, especially because of the way he has emerged, he should do better than what we are seeing.
Go and live with your parents, my left foot; better go back to the drawing board and take this thing much more seriously, Oga, or else…
Come and beat me
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: September 8, 2026
