December 22, (THEWILL) – Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Babajide Obanikoro, son of former senator and Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, as his Special Adviser on Parastatals Monitoring.
The appointment comes after Obanikoro’s unsuccessful bid to retain his seat in the House of Representatives during the 2023 general elections.
He had represented Eti-Osa Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to Labour Party candidate, Thaddeus Attah.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the appointment aligns with his administration’s strategy to strengthen oversight functions and enhance the performance of state parastatals.
He expressed confidence in Obanikoro’s capacity to contribute effectively to the administration’s development agenda.
The political fortunes of the Obanikoro family had appeared dim following double losses during the 2023 APC primaries.
The elder Obanikoro lost his bid for a senatorial ticket to Idiat Adebule, a former deputy governor of Lagos State. Similarly, the younger Obanikoro was initially defeated by Oyekanmi Elegushi, a brother to Oba Saheed Elegushi, in the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency primary.
However, in a surprising twist, party chieftains convinced Elegushi to step down for Obanikoro days before the election, citing the latter’s experience in the political arena.
While Elegushi pledged loyalty to the party and urged his supporters to back all APC candidates, the decision did not yield the desired outcome as Obanikoro eventually lost to the Labour Party’s Thaddeus Attah.
This appointment is seen as a political lifeline for Obanikoro, offering him an opportunity to remain relevant in Lagos State’s political landscape under the Sanwo-Olu administration.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
