The political calculation in Lagos State has suddenly changed with the entry of the respected lawyer, Supo Shasore, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, joining the governorship race. Shasore, already being tipped as the breath of fresh air that Lagos needs, especially with what is currently going on, on the scene, was at a time the out-going governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State. He also represented Lagos at the just concluded Nigerian National Conference in Abuja where he gave a good account of himself as the leader of the delegation.
Born on January 22, 1964, and called to the Bar on October 22, 1987, the universities of Ife and Lagos – trained lawyer rose to the apex of the legal profession in 2006 when he was conferred with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title. Very well respected and regarded in his profession, especially because of some landmark cases that he has handled and won, Lagosians are excited about his joining the race. Some of them who spoke to us had this to say about him: “I am not a politician. But if integrity, hard work and a governor without any baggage, both past and present, is what we are looking for in 2015, then Shasore is the man to beat. All through his tenure as a commissioner, no single stain was attached to his name. And even at the National Conference, he still came out sparkling. In his profession also, you and I know that it is not easy to become a Senior Advocate. Yet he became one at such a young age. That, of course, points to how serious and hard working he has been”.
One Lagosian who gave his name as Adegoke Adebiyi added that: “If what Fashola has done as a lawyer and also a Senior Advocate is anything to go by, then having another Senior Advocate take over from him won’t be a bad idea”. Taking over from him, one more Lagosian, this time a woman, whose gave her name simply as Fatima Olajuwon added: “Of all those now jostling to take over from Fashola, I think he is the most qualified. Besides that, he has no skeletons in his cupboard. But above all that is the fact that he looks so much like Fashola – very, very serious; he doesn’t look to me like someone who will have time for frivolities. I think when elected, he will occupy himself with the issue of governance; not owambe and things like that. Again, because he has been in government, he will hit the ground running since he already understands to a large extent how government works”. Shasore’s beautiful posters, with different messages, are now all over Lagos. Talks also abound that he is the All Progressives Congress joker for the 2015 gubernatorial election. Especially with the groundswell of endorsement coming his way now from left, right and centre.
