Newsbreak: Obafemi Hamzat to create new Ministry for Rural, Riverine Dev.

By Omolade Adegbuyi

The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has promised to create a new Ministry dedicated to rural and riverine
development.

Hamzat spoke at Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Lagos while meeting with traditional rulers from Ikeja Division.

The royal fathers listened with rapt attention as Hamzat laid down his vision for a greater Lagos. His position was backed with diligent presentation of data.

Lagos State, with a population of over 20million is host to 152 riverine communities spread across various waterfront, island, and low-lying local government areas including but not limited to Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, and Eti-Osa.

Most of the communities depend on water ways access with fishing being the associated agro culture.

Lagos also has a coastline stretching 180km from Ibeju Lekki to the Bight of Benin. Hamzat promised to explore the maritime and other economic potentials to boost Lagos economy.

Hamzat said the focal point of the new Ministry will be rural development and riverine communities elected.

Hamzat was also motivated by the plight of rural dwellers, particularly people living in riverine communities.

He explained that his running mate, Hon Damilola Sonayon James, had to be despatched to some riverine communities earlier to see to the situation of dwellers struggling under the yoke of debt burden arising from high loan interest rates imposed on them by some financial institutions.
Dr. Hamzat, the current deputy governor of the state, lamented that the affected people had faced difficulties paying back loans they obtained from the financial institutions as a result of high interest rates, a situation, he said, had further impoverished them.
Addressing the traditional rulers, he stressed the need for policy consistency and continuity in governance and urged the royal fathers to support the APC and all its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Dr. Hamzat pointed out that the coming presidential and governorship elections were consequential for Lagos State, adding that what was at stake was the future of the Nigerian people.
Emphasising the need for a massive turn-out at the polls, the governorship hopeful pointed out that Lagos State with over seven million registered voters could not afford to be having low turn-out at elections as the state with the highest votes in the country.
Dr. Hamzat charged Lagosians to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos in the interest of continued development and progress.
Earlier, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Oye Ojelabi, expressed gratitude to the Obas for their past and continued support to the party and government.
Pastor Ojelabi, who said his major assignment at the event was to formally present the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. K. O. Hamzat, particularly praised Obas from Alimosho Local Government Area for calming what he described as the storm after the gubernatorial choice of the party was announced.
Declaring that Lagos West Senatorial District was critical to the survival of the party, the Lagos APC boss said the district had two of the state’s five divisions (Ikeja and Badagry) and accounted for 28 of the 57 local councils, adding that Alimosho Local Government alone had over 1,500 polling units of the state’s …
Pastor Ojelabi urged the people of Lagos to turn out in large numbers, as according to him, the first election – the presidential election – was critical to the people of the state, pointing out that the opportunity of having the nation’s number one citizen might take years to come again.
The five Obas who spoke at the gathering, among whom were Oba of Odi-Olowo, Oba Apena Williams; Elewu of Ewu, Oba Shakirudeen; Ologba of Ogba, Oba Lateef Oladimeji Egbeyemi made a case for increased allocation to, and improved condition of living for traditional rulers.
The Obas pledged their support to the party and its candidates, especially President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.
Over 30 traditional rulers graced the occasion.
Political heavyweights at the event from the division included members of the Governance Advisory Council, Pa Taiwo, Dr. Yomi Finnih and Cardinal Omolaja Odumbaku.
Others were Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Director-General of PBAT-KOH Campaign, Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, Deputy DG of the campaign, Hon. Razaq Ajala, Hon. Yemi Alli, former Odi-Olowo LCDA chair and member, House of Representatives, SA SDG, Oreoluwa Finnih, Hon Tope Adewale, member Lagos House of Assembly representing Ifako/Ijaye, Princess Rasheedat Adu, former Iru LCDA chair and former Igbogbo LCDA chair, Hon. Sesan Daini among several others