Otedola hosts Hamzat, recalls their boarding school days

Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has revealed a longstanding personal bond with Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, recalling how they shared a bunk bed at boarding school nearly five decades ago.

Otedola made the revelation on Monday after hosting a dinner in honour of Hamzat, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.

In a post on his X account, the businessman described Hamzat as a man of integrity and expressed confidence in his leadership qualities.

“Yesterday, I hosted dinner in honour of @DrObafemiHamzat, the incoming Governor of Lagos State. A man of the highest integrity, with whom I shared a bunk bed at boarding school 49 years ago,” Otedola wrote.

He also highlighted the qualities that, according to him, have characterised their relationship over the years.

“My experience of his character over the years has been defined by his honesty, sincerity, fairness and strong moral principles,” he added.

The dinner attracted some of Nigeria’s most prominent business figures, including Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu.

Hamzat secured the APC governorship ticket in May after winning the party’s primary election in Lagos State ahead of the 2027 polls.

According to the announced results, he received 657,917 votes, while his challenger, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, polled one vote.

The deputy governor has held the position since 2019 under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is now seeking to succeed Sanwo-Olu, whose second term in office is due to end in 2027.