The Bolt Principle: Hamzat's Political Race to Marina House
When we discuss the Olympics, our minds often drift to ancient Greece, Mount Olympus, Pierre de Coubertin, the iconic Olympic Rings, and the world-class athletes who compete. Beyond its status as the premier global sporting event, the Olympics weave countless narratives into its symbolic laurel wreath. These stories are rich with themes of grit, unwavering determination, heart-wrenching disappointment, and glorious triumph. Each Olympic Games heralds the arrival of young hopefuls, the emergence of new stars, the meteoric rise of champions, the sparkling dominance and consolidation of great athletes, the dimming of fading stars, and ultimately, the swan song of legends.
Usain Bolt's Journey from Athens to Beijing
One such compelling strand of this narrative began at the 2004 Athens Games. Here, a young hopeful named Usain Bolt graced the tracks, finishing fifth in his heat and failing to advance to the finals. Away from the public spotlight, Bolt diligently incorporated the Wayne Goldsmith formula, which emphasizes training the brain, managing emotions, and honing the ability to perform under pressure regardless of circumstances. His persistent efforts started yielding results at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, where he reached the 200 metres final, only to have a hamstring injury derail his progress.
Thereafter, Usain Bolt experienced a series of transformative moments, standing at the centre, right, and left sides of the podium at events like the Grand Prix in Lausanne (2006), the World Championships in Osaka (2007), the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2009 World Championships. He famously broke the world record at Beijing and then shattered his own record in Berlin. Bolt's journey vividly illustrates that the path to the top begins with a single step, reinforcing the timeless aphorism that Rome was not built in a day.
Parallels with Dr. Obafemi Hamzat's Political Trajectory
This theme of gradual ascent and mastery finds a perfect parallel in the trajectory of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State. With an impressive doctorate and a distinguished career at prestigious organizations such as Oando, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch, Hamzat was appointed Commissioner for Science and Technology in 2005 by Governor Bola Tinubu. Under his leadership, the digitalization of all governmental processes through the Oracle ERP system was achieved, effectively introducing corporate governance principles—often seen as the holy grail of the private sector—into the public sector.
Later, as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure from 2011 to 2015 during the Babatunde Fashola administration, Hamzat supervised the expansion, upgrading, and completion of numerous roads across Lagos. His brief hiatus from public service coincided with Akinwunmi Ambode's tenure as governor. This period was not one of idleness but rather a time for reflection, refreshing strategies, and devising innovative approaches. The hiatus was short-lived, as he soon served as Special Adviser on technical matters to Fashola in his federal ministerial capacity before emerging as Deputy Governor under Babajide Sanwo-Olu following electoral victory.
Psychological Insights and Deliberate Practice
For nearly every experience Usain Bolt encountered, except injuries, Obafemi Hamzat has had a parallel in the political arena. Bolt earned a mix of bronze, silver, and gold medals; Hamzat has served in varied capacities. Bolt learned from masters before breaking world records; Hamzat has gleaned insights from three different Lagos governors before assuming his deputy role. These trajectories are not absurd but are explained through psychological principles, as elucidated by Swedish psychologist Anders Ericsson in his work on expert performance and deliberate practice.
Ericsson's Delayed Mastery Curve frames learning as progressively slow and often invisible during the initial inertia stage. However, through constant practice, the jagged edges of skill are gradually smoothed out. With consistency in skill acquisition, repetition, and correction, an accumulation of expertise leads to enhanced performance in later stages. Over time, as a two-time Commissioner, Special Adviser, and Deputy Governor, Hamzat has mastered the curve of governance and is poised to peak, much like Usain Bolt did at Beijing.
The Importance of Strategy and Pacemakers
While peaking at the right moment is crucial in sports, the road to the podium is never guaranteed. As the street saying goes, there is no free food even in Freetown. Even if one peaks optimally, competition remains fierce. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt faced intense rivalry, and at the 2009 Berlin event, he competed against top athletes like Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, Marc Burns, and Daniel Bailey. Similarly, in Lagos politics, many names are being touted as potential next occupants of Marina House, including Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
A instructive short story from another sporting event highlights the significance of practice and innovative strategy over mere speed. John Landy, an Australian bronze medallist in the 1,500 metres at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, aimed to be the first to run a sub-4-minute mile in 1953 but repeatedly failed. Then came Roger Bannister, an Englishman who creatively approached the task by enlisting two Olympic runners, Chris Chattaway and Chris Brasher, as pacemakers. With their help, Bannister became the first to break the four-minute mile—a feat Landy achieved just six weeks later. This raises the question: who was the better runner? The answer is not necessarily the fastest, like Landy, but Bannister, who understood how to leverage his pacemakers effectively.
Hamzat's Advantage and Future Prospects
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has had this advantage in abundance, learning from pacemakers in governance such as Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. All contenders vying for Marina House have sweat on their temples from persistent training, but training alone does not win a race. Execution of a strategic game plan is essential—whether opting for a bullet start or pulling away from the pack at a decisive moment. Hamzat, having run alongside three different pacemakers, possesses a unique rhythm and lessons. The critical question is whether he will capitalize on these insights.
If he does, Hamzat will have tapped into the fountain of knowledge encapsulated by advertising legend Bill Bernbach, who once remarked, "It may well be that creativity is the last unfair advantage we're legally allowed to take over our competitors." Can Obafemi Hamzat seize this "legal unfair advantage" and ultimately stand at the centre of the political podium? Only time will tell as his journey continues to unfold.
