“If You Fit Wait, Your Chances Go Get More Weight”: Reflecting on Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s Emergence as Governorship Candidate in Lagos State

When I talk to my students about the virtue of patience, I make them understand that a person who cannot wait will most likely waste. Such person will waste time, resources, opportunities and, in the extreme case, their own life. The pidgin phrase in this piece is a simple but profound lesson in patience, preparation and the reward of perseverance. In an age where many people desire instant success and immediate recognition, this expression reminds us that some opportunities become more valuable precisely because they come after years of learning, sacrifice and service. The emergence of Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as a governorship candidate in Lagos State provides an apt moment to reflect on this enduring principle.

Politics, like every other sphere of life, often celebrates those who eventually occupy the highest offices. Yet, behind every successful emergence lies a long journey of preparation that many people neither see nor appreciate. Leadership is seldom a sprint; it is usually a marathon that rewards consistency, loyalty, competence and resilience.

Dr Hamzat’s political and administrative career exemplifies the value of gradual growth. Over the years, he has occupied strategic positions in public service, contributing to policy formulation, infrastructure development and governance in Lagos State. His years of experience have enabled him to acquire not only technical competence but also institutional knowledge and political maturity. Whether one agrees with his political ideology or not, it is difficult to ignore the years of service that have shaped his public profile.

His emergence therefore sends an important message to young professionals and aspiring leaders: meaningful opportunities often come to those who have invested patiently in building capacity rather than merely seeking visibility. While society frequently celebrates overnight success, the truth is that sustainable leadership is usually built on decades of disciplined preparation.

The culture of impatience has become increasingly pronounced in contemporary society. Social media creates the illusion that everyone else is succeeding faster, leading many people to question the value of persistence. Young graduates expect rapid promotions, entrepreneurs hope for instant breakthroughs, and politicians often seek shortcuts to relevance. However, genuine leadership demands more than ambition. It requires experience, emotional intelligence, sound judgement and the ability to navigate complex realities—qualities that are cultivated over time.

The Yoruba proverb, “Sùúrù ni baba ìwà” (Patience is the father of good character), captures this wisdom beautifully. Patience is not passive resignation; it is active preparation. It is choosing to improve oneself while awaiting the right opportunity. It is understanding that delay is not always denial but sometimes a period of refinement.

Dr Hamzat’s emergence also illustrates another important truth: credibility cannot be manufactured overnight. In public life, trust is earned gradually through consistency, professionalism and commitment to service. Positions may be conferred instantly, but legitimacy develops over years of demonstrating competence and reliability. This explains why individuals with long records of public service often inspire greater confidence than those who suddenly appear on the political scene without demonstrable experience.

Beyond politics, this lesson resonates with every sphere of life. The lecturer waiting for promotion, the civil servant aspiring to become a permanent secretary, the entrepreneur building a business from scratch and the student pursuing academic excellence all experience seasons of waiting. The challenge is to ensure that the waiting period is productive. Waiting without preparation merely prolongs stagnation, but waiting with continuous learning transforms delay into development.

Another striking lesson is that timing matters. Success achieved prematurely may become difficult to sustain if one lacks the necessary experience. Conversely, when opportunity meets preparation, leadership becomes more effective and impactful. The weight of the opportunity matches the weight of the preparation behind it. This is precisely why the saying, “If you fit wait, your chances go get more weight,” remains relevant. Waiting adds value when it is accompanied by growth.

For Lagos State, the emergence of a governorship candidate naturally stimulates conversations about continuity, innovation and the future direction of governance. Elections are ultimately opportunities for citizens to assess competing visions and make informed democratic choices. Regardless of individual political preferences, moments such as these also provide occasions to reflect on the qualities that should define public leadership: competence, integrity, experience, accountability and a commitment to the common good.

For younger Nigerians especially, there is a broader takeaway. Every generation needs role models whose journeys demonstrate that enduring success is rarely accidental. While talent opens doors, it is discipline that keeps them open. While ambition creates dreams, patience gives those dreams staying power. The temptation to compare one’s progress with others should never overshadow the importance of personal development.

Ultimately, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s emergence as a governorship candidate is more than a political event; it is a reminder that preparation remains indispensable to meaningful leadership. It reinforces the timeless wisdom embedded in the catchy pidgin phrase that inspired this reflection. Indeed, if you can wait with purpose, serve with diligence and grow with humility, your opportunities will not only come—they will come with greater weight, greater responsibility and, hopefully, greater capacity to make a lasting difference.

Do you feel your turn just got declined? Has your slot just got lost? Have you just been asked to go and wait? Do not lament. Take it as another chance to boost your credentials with your credibility. “If you wait, your chances go get more weight.”

(c) 2026 Ganiu Bamgbose writes from Lagos.