Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has maintained that he won the 2007 Lagos State governorship election, nearly two decades after the poll, but declared that he has permanently shelved any ambition to become governor of the state.
Obanikoro, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, made the remarks during an interview on Mic On podcast hosted by Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye.
The former Lagos commissioner, who contested the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said although the official result declared former governor Babatunde Fashola of the then Action Congress as winner, he remained convinced that victory was denied him.
“I also believe that we won that election, but you know Nigeria, it is what it is,” Obanikoro said when asked whether he shared the belief of many of his supporters that the election was manipulated.
Despite his conviction, the 66-year-old politician ruled out any future governorship bid, saying his current focus is on mentoring younger Nigerians rather than pursuing elective office.
“It is completely off the table. I’m 66. At this age, we want to reflect more and do things that will properly help the coming generation,” he stated.
Obanikoro lamented what he described as the erosion of Nigeria’s family and moral values, arguing that the country’s future depends largely on experienced leaders guiding younger generations.
“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.
“When you review all of that, 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.
Speaking on his decision to challenge the political structure of President Bola Tinubu in 2007, Obanikoro said he had no regrets, insisting that his governorship aspiration at the time was driven by a genuine desire to serve Lagos State.
“All I wanted to do was achieve what I set my mind on. I was not even thinking about whether I was fighting against my own family — the Bola Tinubu political structure.
“I just felt I wanted to be governor because, at that time, I was full of so many things in my mind,” he said.
Obanikoro had defected from the Alliance for Democracy to the PDP ahead of the 2007 governorship election, where he emerged as the opposition candidate against Fashola.
His latest comments come amid renewed political relevance following his recent appointment as Director-General of the Obafemi Hamzat Governorship Campaign Organisation ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
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