- My Governorship Ambition Is Over at 66 – Obanikoro
- Says He Believes He Defeated Fashola in 2007 I Have No Regrets Challenging Tinubu’s Political Structure
Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has said he believes he won the 2007 Lagos State governorship election but has no intention of seeking the office again.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Obanikoro made the remarks during an interview on the Mic On podcast hosted by Channels Television journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, which was published on Sunday.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said his governorship ambition is over, stressing that his focus at 66 is to mentor the younger generation rather than pursue elective office.
“It is completely off the table. I’m 66, and at this age, we want to reflect more and do things that will properly help the coming generation,” he said.
Obanikoro expressed concern over what he described as the decline of Nigeria’s family structure and value system, saying experienced leaders have a responsibility to guide younger Nigerians.
“There is a need for people to mentor the coming generation. The family structure has more or less collapsed. Our value system is in reverse gear. The best people like us can do is mentor more.
“Let the coming generation be calm and patient. Whether we like it or not, they stand to inherit Nigeria,” he added.
Obanikoro contested the 2007 Lagos governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after leaving the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was officially declared to have lost the election to Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress (AC).
When reminded that many of his supporters believed he won the election, Obanikoro said he shared the same view.
“I also believe that we won that election, but you know Nigeria, it is what it is,” he said.
Asked whether he regretted challenging the political structure of former Lagos governor and President Bola Tinubu, under whom he previously served as commissioner, Obanikoro said he had no regrets.
“All I wanted to do was achieve what I set my mind on. I wasn’t thinking about whether I was fighting my own family, the Bola Tinubu political structure. I just wanted to be governor because, at that time, I had so many things in my mind,” he said.
Obanikoro was recently appointed Director-General of Obafemi Hamzat’s governorship campaign for the 2027 Lagos State election.
