Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro is the cynosure of all eyes immediately he was appointed Director General of the campaign for Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as Governor of Lagos State.
This is a round peg in a round hole. Obanikoro is a household name in Lagos politics and a grassroots politician who knows every corner of the state that matters during elections. He can identify real voters — with a skill that sets him apart from social media politicians with little knowledge of Lagos politics.
Musiliu is a product of the grassroots. He began contesting for political office in 1991 under the SDP against Ademola Adele. He later became Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government in 1997 under the GDM. He was one of the few prominent Lagos Island politicians who openly supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s governorship ambition in 1999, while others in the local government backed Funsho Williams.
Obanikoro recognized Tinubu’s capacity and governance knowledge early, largely due to his background in the United States. This earned him appointment as Commissioner for Culture and Home Affairs in the Lagos State government. During his four years in office, Lagosians benefited greatly. The Eyo Festival was celebrated twice under his leadership, and he, alongside the government committee, organized the coronation of the King of Lagos at TBS in 2003.
He continued his political journey to the Senate in 2003 under the AD, where he defeated his opponents by a wide margin. He sustained his political group, Atayese, from then till today. He later joined the PDP and won the party’s gubernatorial ticket against other contenders, including Bode George aspirant. Although he lost the 2007 election to former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, he was later appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana. He served for four years and strongly supported Nigerians in Ghana, especially Lagosians doing business there. He also welcomed Asiwaju to Ghana to receive an award, setting aside political differences to honor him as his mentor and political leader.
In 2011, Obanikoro voluntarily withdrew from the gubernatorial race because he believed he could not stop a moving train. The result of that election earned the PDP zero local governments in the entire state. He resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs to contest for governor in 2015, lost to Jimi Agbaje, and was reappointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as Minister. He returned to the Senate and received the endorsement of his former colleagues to serve again as Minister of State for Defence.
Obanikoro later chaired the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, and served as Minister of State for Defence and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He also led PDP delegations to Ekiti and Osun to deliver victories for his party, and he is now ready to lead Lagos State to victory in 2027.
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is a political disciple of Baba Hamzat and Chief Tajudeen Olusi. He currently heads the APC political structure in Badagry and represents the local government on the Governor’s Advisory Council of Lagos State.
