By Stephen Simon
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has challenged opposition political parties to present viable and credible alternative ideas capable of competing with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) transformation agenda, warning that seeking political change merely for the sake of it threatens the state’s progress.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Greetings Hall of the historic Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan during its Centenary Anniversary Lecture, Sanwo-Olu declared that “untested novelty” is no longer an option for a state that has thrived on governance continuity since the return of democracy in 1999.
Delivering his paper titled “Democracy, Governance, and the Lagos Spirit: A Century of Excellence,” the Governor—who also serves as the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council—emphasized that democratic choice must be anchored on substantive performance and policy debate.
“We must keep insisting that it cannot be changed merely for the sake of change. We must never think we need to tear things up just to prove that we are in control,” Sanwo-Olu told the gathering of political leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society figures. “Our challenge to the opposition remains the same—to put forward credible ideas that are able to compete with ours, instead of seeking change for the sake of change.”
Sanwo-Olu asserted that the developmental master plan initiated 27 years ago under former Governor—now President—Bola Ahmed Tinubu has served as an enduring framework for successive administrations. He noted that national socio-economic reforms under President Tinubu are yielding visible gains across foreign exchange management, agriculture, security, and education.
Defining the “Lagos Spirit” as a culture of resilience, self-reliance, and civic activism, the Governor highlighted historical milestones where the state forged its own path—from the founding of the indigenous Yoruba Tennis Club in 1926 following colonial exclusion, to leading the June 12 pro-democracy struggle in 1993, and pioneering internal revenue reforms in 2004.
He detailed the core principles of the “Lagos Playbook” for effective governance: long-term vision, self-reliance, strategic partnerships, and evaluating public policy strictly by its direct impact on ordinary citizens.
The lecture was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor and Lagos State APC 2027 gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; members of the state executive council; and the Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawunmi Gasper.
