WOULD IT BE OBAFEMI HAMZAT OR HAKEEM MURI-OKUNOLA OR EVEN CHIEF MRS. REMI ADIKWU????

Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat 

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola

Chief Mrs. Oluremi Adikwu 

So now that the major or should we say the primary ticket has been won by Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu as the APC Governorship flagbearer come 2019, the speculation has been rife as per who would likely be his running mate, that very trusted companion that could further swing things his way very positively.

With the rival PDP's primary also concluded and the winner declared as Jimi 'JK' Agbaje, all hands must now be on deck to make sure that the right running mate chosen/picked, is one that would further add more value to brand BOS and not a choice that would further cause more disaffection or take away from the brand's goodwill.

The battle against Akinwunmi Ambode truth be told caused some disaffections and one of the things that must be done quickly by the APC now is to first heal and to then pursue reconciliation across board, so as to close the gap already opened by the open schism that heralded the choice of Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu.

Now one of the major decisions also that must be taken and that can cause major issues also would be the choice of who becomes the running mate to BOS. To achieve and ensure victory at the primary against the incumbent Governor one of the political calculations that had occurred was when Obafemi Hamzat another of the frontline aspirant in the race for the APC tocket, who though is a prominent member of the Justice Forum, stepped down gallantly and joined hands to ensure BOS's victory at the Primary. Many had immediately assumed then that the duo of Sanwoolu and Hamzat would be a formidable and a winning duo, that would have the winning formula. Apart from the fact that both carries very good qualities into the mix, having fantastic experiences of having worked with at least 2 former Governors, 3 for Sanwoolu; both have strengths that can work to each others good advantage. So it looks like the obvious choice. But would it at the end of the day, be this quite obvious dynamic duo?

Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat was a former commissioner under the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and later on Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN administration too. He is in fact a Special Adviser to the current Minister for Works, Housing and Power, incidentally also BRF! He was 1st appointed Commissioner for Science and Technology in 2005 for 6 years, before he was later redeployed as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructures in 2011 taking over from the now outgoing Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who was a former Commissioner for Works in Lagos then.

A very brilliant 54 year old man  and a prince in Ifo, Father a former prominent politician is a crowned king. He has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MSC and PhD from Universities abroad also.

Another very prominent name that has come into the mix, that in fact some already feel is also very well favoured is none other than the impressive Hakeem Muri-Okunola, famously referred to as HMO by most. Those selling his name are of the opinion that he has always been prepared for such a position as this. In fact some are of the opinion and even claims that him becoming a deputy, would only also be in furtherance of his training for the main target itself. The current Permanent Secretary, Youths and Sports is eminently qualified, were he to be chosen.

His trajectory since he came into the limelight years ago has been staggering and swift to say the least, leaving all with mouth agape at the swiftness of his rise and the positions he has held. He came into the state civil service in 2001, that's all of 17 years ago at age 29 years when he was appointed as the company secretary/legal adviser of Ibile Holdings. 2 years afterwards that's in (2003) at age 31 he was appointed as the PA to none other other than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the Executive Governor of Lagos State. Then 2 years afterwards at age 33, the meteoric rise continued as he became the Executive Secretary to the Governor, Land Use and Allocation Committee, a very lucrative postition he had taken over from the now Senator Gbenga Ashafa who had moved on to become the Permanent Secretary Land Bureau; 6 years afterwards in 2011 at age 39, he again took over from the same Gbenga Ashafa, as the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, under the BRF administration. It was from this position which he held till August 4, 2015, that he was redeployed and transferred to the Youths and Sports Ministry in Lagos State as the Permanent Secretary by the Akinwunmi Ambode administration. Now at age 46 plus, having garnered enough experience as it were he would perfectly fit the position of a deputy aspirant very very well at that and he has a lot going for him.

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola, was born in January of 1972 as the eldest child (son) of the late Justice Muritala-Okunola. He is an alumni of the University of Lagos where he got his Bachelors (Llb) in law and then also Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, where he got his Masters in Business Law. He passed out of the Nigerian Law School in 1995.

Another prominent name that some have suggested that can feature very well on the list also is that of a formidable female politician, Chief Mrs. Remi Adikwu, 62. The lady born on Valentine day, February 14, 1956, has contested on many occasions, at least 3 times to become the 1st elected female Governor of Lagos State unsuccessfully. Married twice, first to her late husband Major Adikwu and later to a former very good friend of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the person of Chief Olakunle Bakare of the Oluwalogbon Motors fame. Her choice if ever ratified would be on strictly political reasons. She is a successful businesswoman.

She had served in 2 different Ministries as exemplary Commissioner under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She later shifted base to the opposition before she recently came back into the fold again.

So which of these trio would be chosen--Hamzat or HMO or Adikwu?????

As an aside though another name sprang up somewhere too, but quite silently though. Person's initials is FC and he is currently doing great in Abuja, could he or would he not?