- Femi Hamzat
Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Femi Hamzat(pictured above) is one of the contenders for All Progressive Congress’ governorship ticket in Lagos State.
The son of a veteran politician and Ogun Monarch, the Oba of Afowowa, a sleepy little town along Abeokuta Expressway, his father is the popular Alhaji Baba Hamzat, former National Vice-Chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the current Apex Leader APC Lagos West Senatorial District.
Dr. Femi’s elder brother, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Mushin 11 Federal Constituency.
Sources who told us that a gripping narrative about the Lagos Commissioner for Work’s journey in politics said that it all started when Former Lagos Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu met him in US in early 2000s where Dr. Femi was a resident and invited him to join giant oil company Oando.
In 2005, Tinubu who was then 2nd term governor created an office for him, Ministry of Science and Technology and appointed him as the Commissioner. It was that same office he occupied during Gov. Fashola’s first tenure.
Investigation revealed that his appointment as Works & Infrastructure Commissioner is a conspiracy to enrich him and make him emerge as the next governor of the state. The ministry controls most of the state’s N23bn monthly IGR in the name of awarding roads, schools and all sorts of construction contracts. It is alleged that Gov. Fashola partakes in the shadowy deals that is taking place in the ministry.
According to sources, it was due to their mutual interest in covering their tracks when they leave office that made Gov. Fashola to suggest Dr. Femi’s name when the party leaders of APC sounded him out on who he would want as his successor come 2015.
Our source gathered that Dr. Femi has a great obsession- he is fixated on the Round House (Lagos seat of government).
But there is nothing humble about his approach as he continues to give APC’s leaders and influential sympathizers of the party who he believes have influence over the party’s hierarchy red carpet treatment.
In the last two months he has shelled out nearly N10bn in various forms to individuals and groups for their supports of his political ambition.
Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu was said to have been shell-shocked when Dr. Femi gave him $250,000 (about N40m) and told a person privy to the gift that “so people make this kind of money in Lagos government?”
Among other beneficiaries of the Lagos Works Commissioner’s largess were the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, the Alara of Ilaara, Oba Akeem Adesanya, the Akran of Badagry and the Olu of Ikeja Land who got $50,000 (about N4m) each.
Impeccable sources told us that Dr. Femi recently bought a house in Epe where he claims his mother hails from and will use as his constituency.
And to get the support of the Arolugbade Epele 11, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, one of the two Obas in Epe he gave the traditional ruler N350m contract in Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
Christmas also came early for several APC’s leaders. One of them was Alhaji Mutiu Are who he gave N300m contract in the same ministry.
About two months ago during the Muslim fasting, it was said that the N2.5m he gave Imams in NITEL Area in Mushin tore the clerics apart as they fought themselves over the sharing formula.
Efforts made by our reporter to speak to the commissioner on the bribery allegation were futile as he did not respond to requests for comment sent to his MTN phone.
Culled From: OrijoReporter
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