There is something magical about sport! If not, how can an entire planet be gripped in the vice of an ordinary game of sport? We have seen that happen time after time during major international football and a few other sports championships! It defies logic! There is definitely something uncanny about sport.

There is also something different about a once-active sportsman that goes ahead in life to participate in government. A good case is Babatunde Raji Fashola. He was never your classic politician. He went into government as a technocrat and did so well he was chosen to lead his political party and become Governor of Lagos State. One year into his tenure he has broken all records and exceeded all expectations. He has brought an uncommon vision and dynamism to government. With the ongoing extra-ordinary development in Lagos State he is on course to becoming the ‘best’ governor Nigeria has had since the third Republic began. He took on the most daunting challenge of modernizing and transforming chaotic and ‘impossible’ Lagos. Slowly and steadily the city is undergoing its most radical transformation since the General Mobolaji Johnson years! With his eyes away from patronizing politicians and focused on his goal, through prudent management of resources and creativity in generating revenue, he is gradually leading the city of Lagos away from its past decay into the 21^st Century in record time.

I have been thinking of why ‘Fash’ is different. The typical sports man goes into every game thinking of winning it. He is ever the optimist. That mentality must provide a good psychological foundation when he goes into government. He thinks of winning against all odds! Governor Fashola continues to hone this psyche with his still active participation in the Sunday-Sunday football amongst his friends! Football takes a lot of the pressure away from him even if only for a few hours every week, and he leaves the field mentally refreshed for constant challenges that always lie ahead! What a useful companion sport can be when taken into the business of governance.