2027: Lagos needs more than promises, Doherty tickles Hamzat

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Funso Doherty, has challenged his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Obafemi Hamzat, to offer more than promises ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Doherty stated this while contrasting his manifesto, titled Ọ̀nà Tuntun, meaning ‘The New Way’, with Hamzat’s manifesto, Ìlérí, which translates to ‘Promise’.

He spoke on Friday at the BusinessDay Policy Intervention Series Town Hall with the Organised Private Sector, where candidates presented their positions on the development of Lagos State.

Doherty urged Lagos residents, business owners and private individuals to assess the outcome of successive administrations in the state and decide whether they wanted a different approach to governance.

He said voters dissatisfied with the current situation should consider the alternatives available and determine which candidate they trusted to lead the state in a new direction.

The first question you ask yourself is: Are you satisfied with the situation today as a business owner, as a business leader, as a private individual? Are you happy with what the outcome is of 27 years of governance? Honestly ask yourself because it’s you,” he said.

He added that those unhappy with the outcome should consider which of the candidates offering alternatives they were comfortable handing leadership over to.

If the answer to that is no, then the next question you must ask yourself is, of the people that offer an alternative, who do you feel most comfortable handing that baton over to, to move you in the next direction?” he asked.

Doherty then drew attention to the titles of the two candidates’ manifestos, using their meanings to question whether Lagosians wanted another promise or a different approach.

“My manifesto is called Ọ̀nà Tuntun. The Deputy Governor’s is called Ìlérí, which is ‘promise’. My own is called ‘The New Way’. Do you want promises, or do you want The New Way?” he said.

Culled from Punch