ANAYO EZUGWU writes on growing support and endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid by various interest groups in Lagos and acceptance of the deputy governor of the state, Obafemi Hamzat, as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Leaders and stakeholders of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the umbrella of The Renewed Hope Network (TRN) have intensified political activities ahead of the 2027 general election with a sweeping endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second and the deputy governor of the state, Obafemi Hamzat, as the next governor, a move analysts say is aimed at consolidating the President’s political base and projecting party unity in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
At a special congregational prayer for Tinubu held at Tafawa Balewa Square on Sunday, attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, the member representing Ikeja federal constituency, James Faleke; party elders, local government leaders and grassroots mobilisers, reaffirmed Lagos APC’s loyalty to the President, widely regarded as the political architect of modern Lagos politics and one of the founding figures of the party. The APC leaders described the endorsement as a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s economic reforms and leadership style despite mounting economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
According to them, the President inherited a troubled economy and has since embarked on difficult but necessary reforms intended to reposition the country for longterm growth. Speakers at the gathering, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the turnout at the event as massive and evidence of support for the President’s election and the emergence of Hamzat as governor of Lagos State.
His words: “I am happy with this massive turnout and show of love. The number of people outside the complex is far more than what we have here. I thank you all. Let us support our candidates for Abuja and Marina. Let us re-elect President Bola Tinubu and support Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. “On behalf of Tajudeen Olusi, I endorse President Bola Tinubu and Obafemi Hamzat as candidates of the APC.
This implies that we have all endorsed them as our candidates. This endorsement has gone to the entire country. We have endorsed Hamzat as the incoming governor of Lagos State.” Earlier in his goodwill message, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obasa, stated that the gathering was not only to pray, but to reaffirm the party’s collective commitment to the future of Nigeria and Lagos State, adding that prayer is the foundation of strength, but action is the proof of faith.
“Today, our action is clear: We stand firmly behind the re-election of our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, our current deputy governor, as the next governor of our state. “The re-election of the President is not just about continuity, it is about consolidating the gains of Renewed Hope and ensuring that Nigeria remains on the path of prosperity. We are duty-bound to ensure that we make this happen for the future of this generation and for posterity.
“Similarly, Dr. Hamzat has proven himself as a loyal, capable, and dedicated servant of the people. His partnership in governance has strengthened Lagos, and his leadership will ensure that our state continues to shine as the heartbeat of Nigeria,” he said. The Convener of TRN, Faleke said Tinubu has earned the right to lead Nigeria through years of steadfast service. He added that the administration will continue to stand strong because it is rooted in the rule of law, built on real loyalty and dedicated to the progress of Nigerians.
He said: “When we started these journey years ago, many said the Renewed Hope Agenda was a mere campaign slogan but today, we see the seeds of a new Nigeria being sown. We see a President who is not afraid of the hard decisions. It takes courage and a deep sense of empathy to make the decisions our President made. “These decisions favoured the masses, but they displaced the few who had become comfortable living off the sweat of the people.
These are the people you hear complaining today. They are the politically displaced outdated figures who are lamenting because they no longer have a say, and they no longer have access to the resources they once monopolized. “They are crying because their era of selfish interest is over. They are struggling to find relevance in a Nigeria that has moved past them for the common good of all.
The removal of the fuel subsidy was a bitter pill that had been sitting on the doctor’s table for decades. Past leaders saw it, they knew it was necessary, but they lacked the audacity to act. “Nigeria needed that audacity to reach the next level. Our President took those bold steps on his very first day, damning the consequences and ignoring the selfish interests of a political class that had fed off the status quo for too long.
This bold decision saved the nation money freeing and directing resources for development. At the subnational level, President Tinubu has shown that true economic development is not centralised. “With the bold implementation of local government financial autonomy and the review of the revenue allocation formula, we are unlocking new possibilities for genuine fiscal decentralisation and grassroots development.
This is the Renewed Hope in action empowering every tier of government so that development reaches the grassroots where it matters most. “To truly understand where we are today, it is important to have a brief recap to where we started, not with the intent to assign blame, but to appreciate the difficult foundation we inherited and the journey that brought us here. We must remember how heavy the air felt in late 2023.
Let’s remember the ways and means era, where the poor man suffered its effect in suffocating inflation at about 33 per cent, the government treated the Central Bank like a personal ATM, printing trillions of Naira that have no real value they caused the prices of food and fuel to skyrocket. “They didn’t just print money, they printed poverty. Despite that high inflation minimum wage remained 30,000 Naira, while our external reserves were under serious pressure. Fuel queues that plagued Nigerians for years disappeared under President Tinubu.”
In his remarks, ex-Governor Bello commended the President for what he described as the remarkable leadership and sacrifices he had made for the growth and stability of Nigeria. He noted that Tinubu had endured decades of political struggles and remained steadfast in his commitment to democratic governance and national development, despite numerous challenges and opposition encountered along the way.
Acknowledging the pivotal role Tinubu played in the formation and strengthening of progressive political platforms from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the emergence of the APC, Bello asserted that the President’s political consistency, resilience, and unwavering belief in the unity and progress of the country, remain clear testimonies to his enduring leadership qualities and statesmanship.
The Director General of TRN, Chief Mohammad Danmole, in his welcome address, described the group as a dynamic grassroots political movement, championing the re-election of President Tinubu. “The Renewed Hope Network (TRN) is not a conventional political organisation but a community based mobilisation platform dedicated to networking at the grassroots. Our mission is to directly engage with ordinary Nigerians in their own languages, respecting their cultures and traditions, while localising the Renewed Hope Agenda in every ward, polling unit, and community across the country.
“Our primary objective is to mobilise strong nationwide support for the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027. Beyond elections, TRN seeks to promote civic participation, national unity, political inclusion, and good governance through structured grassroots engagement,” he said. Responding to the endorsement, Hamzat urged Lagosians to come out in large numbers to vote for President Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
He emphasized that the President must be supported to continue the work of stabilising and securing Nigeria, noting that the administration had provided direction and leadership for national progress. “President Tinubu deserves another term to consolidate on the achievements already made and to ensure continued prosperity for the citizens,” he said.
In his prayers for the President, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, prayed for divine strength, wisdom and protection for Tinubu. He also prayed that God should renew the President’s strength “like the eagle” and shield him from every form of evil.
The Amir of NADWAT Global Assembly, Sheikh Rahman Lawal, on his part, prayed for the success of the 2027 general election. He also prayed that the President should be re-elected to continue working for the masses as well as for a smooth transition of power in Lagos State.
