There are so many big names in small ponds and people wonder why politicians in relatively unknown parties can't come together and put one person forward to battle the giants with money, influence and popularity.

Politicians like Donald Duke, Obi Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu, Fela Durotoye and Omoyele Sowore are merely big fishes in small ponds and could easily get drowned by bigger names if peradventure they find themselves in the big pond. The fear of being small fishes in a big pond is one of the reasons they chose to remain in small ponds.

Being a big fish in small ponds relates with the unsuspecting power possessed by an underdog to pull a stunt or ‘shake the table’ that has big boys on it. This theory works in business. It works in sports - it worked for Leicester City Football Club three season ago when they unexpectedly clinched the premiership title; but politics is a different ball game.

Read full article here: http://ajispeaks.com/2018/10/22/nigerian-politics-the-big-fish-small-pond-theory/

Everything in Nigeria is bewildering. Yes, everything. Most especially, Politics. For instance, why are morally bankrupt, unrefined people with questionable characters holding sway while the enlightened, respected and respectable individuals (for example Professors) could only be collating officers for INEC...counting results that would make small-minded half-illiterates rulers over them?

There's little or no iota of morality & decency in Nigerian politics. This makes it difficult for morally upright, respectable and enlightened individuals to get involved. From all indications, we as a nation are not concerned about the credibility & competence of the candidates ...we are only concerned about our stomachs and pockets...some few nairas and cups of rice will make us support any confirmed rogues and retired looters.

In this nation of ours, credible people with the tenacity and the sincerity of purpose to achieve commendable things, & who genuinely loves and wants to serve this country in various elective capacities, are not encouraged or supported by majority of the people. Whereas, rogues and looters who doesn’t have the moral antecedents to occupy political offices, are loved and celebrated by many for little financial benefits.
Read more: http://ajispeaks.com/2018/10/16/nigeria-deserves-better/

I don't like Tinubu. And I'm sure he doesn't even care what I think of him. However, I admire his understanding of the game of politics. Yes people, it's just a game. Don't get mad.

The last time this man held a political office was 2007. Just before 2011 elections, most of his contemporaries slumbered into the unknown and were forgotten. However, he trudged on creating new structures for his party to thrive on.

People keep saying Tinubu is a greedy leader who solely controls Lagos resources, and had greatly influenced the outcome of the just concluded Lagos primaries.

Well, if that’s your opinion, it's nothing far from the truth.

Just like every APC member in Lagos, Tinubu can only cast a vote once. However, what works for him is influence. Over the years, this man has successfully built his influence in every nook and cranny of the state and beyond.

Yes, politics is a game of numbers. But first, a game of influence. How many people can you influence to agree with you and follow in your direction? If you get that right, there’s certainly no way people would abandon you when you needed them the most.

With every step, Tinubu tested his influence from regional to state and federal levels. Despite some loggerheads, Fashola followed suit by understudying his master to become a man of the people, which would later earn him three ministries after an eight year term as governor of Lagos State.

Power is nothing without influence.

What Tinubu has isn't power to control Lagosians into doing his bidding; it's influence built on trust over the years.
Read about how he built that influence here: http://ajispeaks.com/2018/10/17/bola-ahmed-tinubu-a-case-study-in-influence-peddling/

10 WAYS TO SUCCEED AS A POLITICIAN IN NIGERIA
1. Know that Nigerians have defective personal and collective memories. They will always forgive you no matter how much you steal, how poorly you performed or how abominably you behave. Just ensure you go away for sometime and return in a different shirt. Too much is happening too fast in their lives to keep tab of everything.

2. Know that money is the only thing that our value system revolves around. Steal it well, spend it well, use it to oppress your opponents, divide it into tiny crumbs and throw it into the crowd, dazzle your supporters with it. There is a lot of poverty already on ground. They will never understand the meaning or the value of the billions you steal and the opportunity cost of the stolen funds, and they will not begrudge you for stealing it. What is real to them are the crumbs that get to their hands. They are too ravaged by poverty of thoughts and material poverty.

3. Lie liberally. Lie everyday. Lie without ceasing. Lie without shame or remorse. In the final analysis, it won't be lies any more. It would just be your personal truth, also known as propaganda. It's an acceptable political tool in Nigeria. Everybody does it. Even your pastor and your imam. As long as it brings political power and wealth. Make promises you never intend to keep.

4. Let God feature prominently in all your speeches and discourse. Hinge your mandate on him, tell Nigerians he sent you, tell them you will perform well by his Grace. Tell them he is the giver of power and all power belongs to him. That he has decided to give the power to you. Tell them that even though they vote for you, it is God who will solve their problems. Failure of your government is tantamount to failure of God (which is impossible. And God is on your side). Or failure of the devil. Whichever suits your purpose well.

Read more: http://ajispeaks.com/2018/10/15/10-ways-to-succeed-as-a-politician-in-nigeria/

1. Know that Nigerians have defective personal and collective memories. They will always forgive you no matter how much you steal, how poorly you performed or how abominably you behave. Just ensure you go away for sometime and return in a different shirt. Too much is happening too fast in their lives to keep tab of everything.

2. Know that money is the only thing that our value system revolves around. Steal it well, spend it well, use it to oppress your opponents, divide it into tiny crumbs and throw it into the crowd, dazzle your supporters with it. There is a lot of poverty already on ground. They will never understand the meaning or the value of the billions you steal and the opportunity cost of the stolen funds, and they will not begrudge you for stealing it. What is real to them are the crumbs that get to their hands. They are too ravaged by poverty of thoughts and material poverty.

3. Lie liberally. Lie everyday. Lie without ceasing. Lie without shame or remorse. In the final analysis, it won't be lies any more. It would just be your personal truth, also known as propaganda. It's an acceptable political tool in Nigeria. Everybody does it. Even your pastor and your imam. As long as it brings political power and wealth. Make promises you never intend to keep.

4. Let God feature prominently in all your speeches and discourse. Hinge your mandate on him, tell Nigerians he sent you, tell them you will perform well by his Grace. Tell them he is the giver of power and all power belongs to him. That he has decided to give the power to you. Tell them that even though they vote for you, it is God who will solve their problems. Failure of your government is tantamount to failure of God (which is impossible. And God is on your side). Or failure of the devil. Whichever suits your purpose well.

Read more: http://ajispeaks.com/2018/10/15/10-ways-to-succeed-as-a-politician-in-nigeria/