'Governorship Is Off the Table': Obanikoro Backs Youth Leadership, Mentorship

'Governorship Is Off the Table': Obanikoro Backs Youth Leadership, Mentorship

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has declared that his long-held ambition to become governor of Lagos State is over, saying his focus has shifted from seeking elective office to mentoring the next generation of Nigerian leaders.

Speaking during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Channels Television journalist Seun Okinbaloye, the 66-year-old politician said he believes the time has come for experienced leaders to invest in raising younger Nigerians rather than pursuing personal political ambitions.

"It is completely off the table," Obanikoro said when asked about the possibility of contesting the Lagos governorship. "I'm 66, and at this age we should reflect more and do things that will genuinely help the coming generation."

He argued that the erosion of traditional family values and mentorship structures has created an urgent need for older leaders to guide young people.

"Particularly in Nigeria, there is a need for people to mentor the coming generation. The family structure has more or less collapsed, and our value system is in reverse gear. The best people like us can do is mentor more," he said.

Urging young Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the country's challenges, Obanikoro said they would ultimately inherit the nation and should prepare themselves for leadership.

"Let the coming generation be calm and patient. Whether we like it or not, they stand to inherit Nigeria," he added.

Obanikoro's comments mark a significant shift for a politician whose governorship ambition once placed him in direct confrontation with the political machinery of President Bola Tinubu.

In 2007, after defecting from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obanikoro contested the Lagos governorship election against Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress (AC). He had previously served as commissioner under Tinubu's administration and was the senator representing Lagos Central at the time of the election.

Reflecting on the contest, Obanikoro maintained that he believes he won the election, despite the official outcome.

"I also believe that we won that election, but you know Nigeria—it is what it is," he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that he regretted challenging Tinubu's political structure, insisting that his decision was driven by personal conviction rather than political calculations.

"At the age of 47, all I wanted was to achieve what I had set my mind on. I wasn't thinking about whether I was fighting against my own family or Bola Tinubu's political structure. I simply wanted to be governor because I had so many ideas I wanted to implement," he said.

Now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obanikoro has assumed a different political role. He was recently appointed director-general of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat's campaign organisation ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election, signalling a transition from aspirant to political strategist and mentor.