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Law 13: WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF-INTEREST, NEVER TO THEIR MERCY OR GRATITUDE

JUDGMENT
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW
In 1967, at the height of confrontation between the secessionist Biafra and the Nigerian Federal Government, a secret cable exchange between the American ambassador in East-Germany and his counterpart in Lagos — Nigeria, revealed that a Biafran diplomat had travelled to Moscow, in order to facilitate an arms deal with the U.S.S.R. The Soviets agreed not only to recognize and support Biafra’s secession, they would sell them the weapons they need for the war; but, on the condition that Biafra would nationalize its oil industries. Emeka Ojukwu, the Biafran leader out rightly rejected the conditional offer, stating that Biafra does not have the money to reimburse the oil companies; and also they do not have the expertise to run the oil companies on their own. And so, the arms deal failed. Eventually, Biafra lost the ensuing civil war, primarily due to inadequate weapons to execute the war.

Interpretation
Even though the Biafran leader’s reasons for refusing the Soviets conditional offer were valid — indeed, they do not have the money to reimburse the private oil firms, as well as the expertise to run the oil industry on their own; the Soviets could care less. In actuality, they never cared about the Biafran cause or its people. They are the world’s custodian of communism and that is their only interest in the whole affair which the Biafrans could not appeal to. They lost the opportunity to get the weapons and paid the price for transgressing the Law of appealing to the helper’s self-interest.

Takeaway Quote
“And in the end, most people are in fact pragmatic; they will rarely act against their own self-interest.”
-Robert Greene

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW
Few months after the Biafrans had failed to get the Soviets to sell them weapons, the Nigerian Federal Government sent their own envoys to Moscow to also facilitate arms deals. The Soviets agreed to sell, and gave the same condition that they had given the Biafrans — Nationalization of the oil industries. The Nigerian delegation readily accepted the offer, signed a cultural agreement with the Soviets, and promised to nationalize the oil industries including all of its allied industries, once they get the arms to fight the war and recapture the industries from the Biafrans. Few days later, 15 MiGs arrived in Nigeria and with those weapons and many more from the Soviets, the Nigerian troops were able to defeat the secessionist Biafrans. Afterwards though, the Nigerians did not even bother about the nationalization promise they made to the Russians, after all, their aim has already been achieved.

Interpretation
The Nigerian Federalists only wanted to defeat the Biafran Secessionist, and they needed weapons. The Soviets, who had the weapons, only wanted to propagate their communist ideology. At that point, even though the Nigerian had no real intention of nationalizing its oil industries, the promise to do so would suffice, and so they did; even going further to sign cultural agreements just to appeal to the self-interest of the Soviets. Nigeria perfectly applied the Law of appealing to the Soviets self-interest.

Takeaway Quote
“Self-interest is the lever that will move people. Once you make them see how you can in some way meet their needs or advance their cause, their resistance to your requests for help will magically fall away.”
-Robert Greene

Excerpts is from my book “Applications of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria
available on Amazon Kindle with the link below
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S3YZ465
NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email:serrickbytes@gmail.com

LordIsaac:
Nice application. Add observance of the law, key to power and reversal, and you'll have succeeded in localising the 48Laws

already posted the observance of the law here

https://www.nairaland.com/7038362/charles-soludo-1st-law-power.

The 48 Laws have been completely localized, with side notes. the eBook is available on Amazon Kindle. see the link below

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S3YZ465

qekng40:
Jonathan broke all so chill.

On the contrary, Goodluck Jonathan is actually one of the most skillful power players in Nigeria’s politics. It takes much more than goodluck to rise from obscurity to become president.
Warning: those who we underestimate are actually the most adept Machiavellians.
It’s all in the book

jyz200:
Same thing happened to Aregbesola
Reason why some people said vp can’t contest against Jagaban except Jagaban approve it
Power sharing is a game , you must learn how to play it else
Well
You can ask Ambode

Ambode Transgressed Law 39: Stir water to catch a fish
Its all in the book, or follow me on medium, will post it there eventually.
indeed, you must learn the games of power

Oyin2212:
This is actually a great breakdown. Thanks for this OP.

Thank you for reading.
You can get the complete ebook on amazon kindle
https://amzn.to/3IpFx0E
you can also follow me on medium
https://medium.com/@serrickbytes

Law 1: NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER


JUDGMENT
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW
In 1999, after many years of military rule, and Nigeria was on a return to a democratic form of government, Olusegun Obasanjo, an ex-general who had ruled the country about 2 decades earlier as a military head of state, appears poised to become the next elected president. Obasanjo had won the primary election of the leading political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to become its presidential candidate; however, his emergence as the PDP’s presidential candidate was not of his own volition or prowess, but an orchestration of some top retired and serving military men from the northern part of the country, and Obasanjo who hails from the southern part of the country, knew quite rightly that he was in for a big treat – sooner or later, these unscrupulous northern power brokers would devour him like a meal. Even though himself was once an army general, and had ruled the country during his military years thus, could boast of some power sapience, he certainly cannot match to the cunning and scheming of these powerful Northern-Nigerian oligarch, whose region has been dominating the governance of the country since independence. Nevertheless, Obasanjo envisaged a means to counteract these northern schemers, and that would come from his choice of running-mate. As a southerner, since he is expected to pick his running-mate from the North, he would ensure that his would-be vice-president must be someone who is vast in the politics of Northern-Nigeria, and would make the most dependable ally off him; that way he could easily use him to checkmate the scheming of these Northern oligarchs, anytime. With that in mind, Obasanjo turned down all other persons from the North that were contending for the position, and instead chose a politician named Atiku Abubakar. To Obasanjo, he had seen everything he wanted in his ally in the man, Atiku Abubakar.

Prior to been offered the vice-presidential slot by Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar, a retired customs chief and a shrewd politician had just won the election to become the governor of his home state, Adamawa State; that was not all, Atiku had also helped to get many other persons elected – Senators, Federal and State Legislators. Also, Atiku, being very wealthy (he had made quite a fortune during his days as a custom officer and subsequent business ventures) had donated substantial amount of money to finance Obasanjo’s campaigns; and even more interesting is the fact that Atiku was a close political associate and protégé of the late Major-General Shehu Yar’adua, Obasanjo’s deputy during his earlier era as a military ruler in the 70s. From all indications, the Obasanjo and Atiku’s alliance seemed to be the most compatible; and together they contested and won the elections with Obasanjo as president and Atiku as vice-president.

On accession into offices, however, Atiku soon began to hold sway in the government; influencing several important decisions and brokering many political appointments. He made the calls on who were to be made ministers. His friends and associates were given advantageous positions, and Atiku, himself headed several key and lucrative government bodies – facilitating contracts running into billions for his business cronies.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo in the early days of his coming to power busied himself globetrotting, trying to sell Nigeria’s new democratic image to the international league, thus leaving the bulk of running the new government to his dependable deputy, Atiku, who amply stepped into the limelight. He was commissioning public projects here and there, chairing executive meetings and having affairs with some of the most beautiful movie stars in the country. His name and photos frequented the media – newspapers, radio and TV stations, and with his flourishing influence, governors, senators and other political actors soon gravitated towards him. He was without doubt the man of the moment. As time went by, Atiku's prominence only rose. His flamboyance was eclipsing that of the president. He held more political meetings, and attended more social events. He carried himself with a kind of acceptation – the president in-waiting. Atiku was not all about the glamour, and being the sly politician, he had at the same time strengthened his political empire, and was almost just waiting for the moment to be pronounced the president himself; after all, he had vied for the position sometimes in the 80s.

In 2003, as the stipulated four-year tenure of the president drew to a close and another election approached, Atiku seemed ready to contest for president, and began making his moves. He already had several key political allies – governors, senators, and businessmen. Everything seems to be in concert with his designs – except the president himself, Obasanjo, who it appears that, was not ready to vacate the office. President Obasanjo begged Atiku, whose support he very much needed to let him run for a second term, after which, Atiku could then have his shot. It was even reported that Obasanjo, notwithstanding his position as the president and age, prostrated before his much younger vice, Atiku just to secure the man’s support. Eventually Atiku consented and both men were re-elected as president and vice-president. But then, those who witnessed the political intrigues of that moment, caught on to the notion that Atiku had become all powerful and indispensable to Obasanjo, so much that the president would have no option than to handover to him in due course. Atiku on his part, only sustained his game plan – winning more political allies, canvassing for support across the country. He even made strong international connections, including then South-Africa’s vice president Jacob Zuma and influential US congressman, Williams Jefferson. Glaringly, Atiku was in top preparation to take over from his boss, President Obasnjo very soon.

However, towards the end of their tenure, a series of events occurred that cracked the once amiable relationship between the president, Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku, culminating in President Obasanjo to outrageously declare the office of the vice president vacant. Obasanjo also publicly renounced whatever support he had for Atiku’s political aspirations. And during the elections, Obasanjo employed every means to thwart Atiku’s presidential ambition, finally forcing him out of their political party, the PDP into another party. From the other party, Atiku contested the presidential election and still lost. And ever since then, Atiku has been striving to become president and had contested all subsequent elections with no avail – that which he wanted the most, remained elusive.

Interpretation
Over the years, Obasanjo’s vainglory became legendary. His inflated self-perceptive sense of importance and the relish of being touted as “the king maker” of Nigeria’s politics is unparalleled. His words and actions reverberate these traits of him, and he does not waste time in lashing out at those whom he believes owed him their ascendancy to a position. Some people opined that Obasanjo’s grouse with Atiku lies with the fact that Atiku refused to support Obasanjo’s infamous attempt to run for office for the third term (Obasanjo had plotted to have the country’s constitution altered, so as to enable him rule as president for a third-term, but failed). But then, even if Atiku had supported Obasanjo’s third-term bid, and he had eventually succeeded, it remains doubtful that Obasanjo would have let Atiku succeed him because, in choosing his successor, Obasanjo overlooked several persons who had wanted to – including many of his close and loyal associates who supported his third-term idea, but instead, he chose a man named Umaru Yar’adua – a modest, quiet and little known politician who had showed no interest in becoming president.

Years later, in a tell-all autobiography, Obasanjo chronicled Atiku’s misgivings with scathing remarks. The most revealing part was where he admitted that he had at the outset penned down Atiku to become president after him, but remarked that the man (Atiku) hardly let him settle down before making an overt move to take over his position. Apparently, while Atiku was engrossed with raising his political stakes, in doing so, he was inadvertently provoking his boss’s vanity, thereby incurring his hostility. President Obasanjo not only bypassed Atiku in choosing his successor, but relentlessly became a bane in the man’s political career, all because Atiku had imprudently outshone him. Atiku lost the most chance to become president because he had transgressed the first law of power.

Takeaway Quote
“Never take your position for granted and never let any favors you receive go to your head”
-Robert Greene

Excerpts is from my book “Transgressions and and Observances of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria”
available on Amazon Kindle.
Find it on Amazon with the serial number: B09S3YZ465

NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email: serrickbytes@gmail.com

Omihanifa:
Please is it possible to get the hard copy of this to turn book?

Only the ebook available for now. You can get it on Amazon Kindle

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW

When Major-General Ibrahim Babangida overthrow his close friend and decades-long military colleague, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari via a coup d’état in 1985; he first ensured that Buhari was well locked up. Then he assembled his fellow coup plotters, and after a toast to celebrate their success, he said to them, “Congratulations! We made it but remember one thing, just like we took up guns and toppled a government, we also have to watch because somebody would one day want to topple us and this is because I understood the nature of the Nigerian person.” Babangida did not just make a trifling statement, he was proactive and made the most scheming moves ever. Over the course of the next few years, Babangida retired many of his top generals; some were retired in batches and groups, and others were retired one by one. Even some of his closest friends like Generals Gado Nasko and Sani Sami were not spared of Babangida’s retirement ploy. However, the most interesting aspect of Babangida’s retirement tact was that he only stripped most of the retired generals off their military powers, but kept them on as civilian members of his government; one of such was his second-in-command, Commodore Augustus Aikhomu, whom he retired from active military service but retained him as the country’s vice-president. The only generals President Babangida did not retire were the ones he depended on to guard him against coup d’états, like Generals Abacha and Aliyu Gusau, but nevertheless Babangida used redeployments tactics to checkmate them; he kept moving them around, from one command to another, and at short intervals – that way, they do not get too settled in their respective positions to plot against him. Even with the retirements and redeployments strategy, Babangida did not rest on his oars; he was the most generous to his generals, and employed the power of money to make them wealthy and satisfied.

President Banbagida rightly identified the press as one of the most potent enemies of any government since they control the dissemination of information and could easily incite insurrections. Babangida reached out to them, and befriended some notable journalists. He agreed to interviews from those news agencies that had antagonized previous governments, and even had the foremost opposition politician and publisher, Chief Obafemi Awolowo visit him with his wife. Awolowo’s newspaper agency, The Nigerian Tribune had always been a thorn in the flesh of the previous government; but when Awolowo emerged from the president’s residence, he was pictured alongside Babangida, beaming with the broadest of smiles.

Babangida turned even more enemies into friends; Wole Soyinka and Tai Solarin – men who never saw anything good about military rule were given appointments by General Babangida. Tai Solarin, who was made the head of a new credit bank described the offer as “unusual”, but he accepted it anyways, and was very happy. Then there were the Ransome-Kuti family – who were renowned for castigating anything that has to do with military rule; they were either marching the street protesting, or the radical musician Fela Kuti is attacking one general or the other with stinging lyrics of his songs. Babangida brought the Kuti family into his fold, when he made renowned pediatrician, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti his health minister, and knowing that the health minister’s brothers, Fela and Beko Kuti were unrepentant chain-smokers, he had him launch a nationwide campaign against tobacco.

Babangida beguiled everyone who could mar his rule; including politicians, traditional and religious rulers whom he patronized with cash gifts. Those he could not bring into his government, Babangida settled them with money. Even the wife of the man he usurped, Major-General Buhari, received cash gifts from Babangida, while at the same time, still keeping her husband in prison.

Interpretation
General Babangida had participated in lots of coups. Even the one that had brought his predecessor, General Buhari to power, was his machination; reason why Buhari rewarded him with the post of the Army Chief, a position from which he was able to plot another coup and finally seize power for himself. Therefore he very much knew what he was up against. There was no escaping it – someone would definitely plot to oust him. It was sacrosanct. However, he can deflect it, and the best way to do it was to make friends out of his numerous enemies – the journalists, the politicians, the regular government critics and most especially, the very dangerous generals close to him. He did just what the Chinese General, Chao K’uang-yin (Emperor Sung) did – retiring his generals, rewarding them with riches and keeping them far away from the source of their power; and they in turn became his staunch loyalists. One general even swore he could follow Babangida into the battlefield blindfolded. Even those who never expected Babangida’s appeal, were astonished when he reached out to them with the usual largesse, and they in due course, became his supporters. Babangida never trusted his friends; in fact, the first significant person he executed upon coming to power was his childhood friend and colleague, Major-General Maman Vatsa – whom he accused of plotting to overthrow him. Babangida ruled for many years, and survived several plots and twists. He secured so much power to himself that made any coup against him impossible and suicidal because he perfected the art of using his enemies, and never trusting his friends.

Takeaway Quote
“The wise man profits more from his enemies, than a fool from his friends.”
Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658

Law 2: NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

JUDGMENT
Be wary of friends they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW
In 1975, General Yakubu “Jack” Gowon, Nigeria’s Military ruler was attending an African conference in Kampala, Uganda when he was ousted. When one of his aides informed him of his overthrow, Gowon was shocked, but he quickly comported himself and managed to put up a calm disposition. Although uncertain, Gowon could picture a glimpse of hope somewhere – the coup can still be foiled if only “The Man” is on his side!

The originator of the plot to overthrow General Gowon was then Colonel Shehu Yar’adua. Yar’adua had co-opted other mid-ranking officers like Colonels Ibrahim Taiwo, Abdullahi Muhammed, Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari. Yar’adua then approached some of his superior officers, who were brigadiers, and intimated them of the plot to remove General Gowon from power. Although the brigadiers agreed on the necessity of the putsch, they however declined to actively partake in it, and told the plotters, “There must be no bloodshed in the process”.

In order to succeed, and also avoid bloodshed like the brigadiers had insisted, the plotters needed an inside man – someone who is part of Gowon’s security that can easily neutralize his defense, and close to Gowon and privy enough to forestall any surprises. Eventually, they got their man, and he readily joined the plot. The man was Colonel Joe Garba.

Colonel Joe Garba commanded the guards’ brigade – the elite special fighting force tasked with defending the head of state, General Gowon to death. Joe Garba, then a 21 year old fresh out of the military academy as a lieutenant, was handpicked by Gowon, who was impressed by the young soldier’s physique, and then brought him into the guard’s brigade. Eventually, Gowon made Joe Garba commander of the guards’ brigade, with both men becoming very close friends over the years.

On the set date of the overthrow, Joe Garba, kitted in full combat outfit, was tasked with ensuring the guards’ brigade would offer no resistance, which he had no trouble doing since he was their commander. He simply ordered them to stand down. Joe Garba also had some of Gowon’s other security men quietly arrested. After which he proceeded to the radio station, and in a nationwide broadcast, announced the end of General Gowon’s rule.

Back in Kampala, Uganda, when Gowon eventually learnt that the very man he had been hoping on to thwart the coup and save his regime; the head of his special guards – Colonel Joe Garba was in fact the man who announced his overthrow, he knew then, that was the end of his government. He never bothered going back to Nigeria, not even after the new government promised to guarantee his utmost safety. Gowon instead went on exile to London, where he remained for several years.

Interpretation
Few months before his overthrow, General Gowon’s intelligence unit had tipped him off that a coup was underway, and Joe Garba’s name had been mentioned as part of the plotters. Gowon called Joe Graba into his office, “I heard you are plotting against me”, he said. Joe Garba denied it, and swore his allegiance to the ruler. Again, a few days before he had departed for the African Countries summit in Uganda, Gowon was informed of Joe Garba’s possible complicity in a coup plot, with strong recommendation to remove him from his position as the head of the elite guard’s brigade. Gowon confronted Joe Garba for the second time, and still, he denied the allegations. Gowon then chose to believe his friend’s denials, after all, Joe Garba has been his confidant for many years; he owes his position to him (Gowon) and stood to gain more from Gowon in charge of the country than anyone else. They are from the same home state, same tribe, kinsmen, both are Christians, and Joe Garba was a professional soldier who is bound by oath to defend and protect his commander-in-chief, General Gowon. With his trust and belief in Joe Garba, Gowon jetted out to Uganda, only for the same Joe Garba to conspire with others and have him toppled.

It took several decades to finally reconcile Gowon and Joe Garba – who rose to become a major-general before he retired from the military. Apparently, General Gowon was more stung with Joe Garba’s betrayal than the coup itself. But then, in actuality, General Gowon had himself to blame when he chose to transgress the law that states “Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends”.

Takeaway Quote
“If you never expect gratitude from a friend, you will be pleasantly surprised when they do prove grateful”
-Robert Greene

Excerpts is from my book “Transgressions and and Observances of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria”
available on Amazon Kindle.
Find it on Amazon with the serial number: B09S3YZ465

NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email: serrickbytes@gmail.com

life2017:
Nice analysis

Thank you

Law 45: PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE

JUDGMENT
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW
Bola Tinubu, a statesman Yoruba politician from Western part of Nigeria have always had a national ambition, and putatively, only through a political alliance with the powerful Hausa-Fulani oligarch of Northern Nigeria, who dominates the country’s political schemes could he realize his ambition. But considering the habitual political animosity between the Yoruba tribe of Western-Nigeria and the Northern-Nigeria Hausa-Fulani people, it presents a most treacherous and dangerous terrain for Tinubu.

The genesis of the problem:
The years leading to Nigeria’s independence saw the country being driven by tribal and regional politics. Each of the three regions – Northern, Eastern and Western regions had a dominant political party that controls its politics and administration, and neither of these regions, their political parties and their leaders had any serious reasons to affiliate with one another until towards 1960 – when the need for the first federal government of an independent Nigeria arose.

The Northern region’s political party – Northern People’s Congress (NPC) had emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections and the Eastern region’s leader, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, together with his political party, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), allied with the northern political party and formed a federal government. The western region on the other hand, whose leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo felt that they – the Yorubas of the western region, were better suited to lead the new country at the federal level, instead of these undeservedly Hausa-Fulani from the north. He refused any form of alliance with the Northern party and declined invitation to join the federal government. Even when his trusted lieutenant, Chief Samuel Akintola persuaded him to join the federal coalition, Awolowo refused; there was absolutely no way that he, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a brilliant lawyer and distinguished businessman, would play second fiddle in power to these people from up north who are less educated and are only good in farming tomatoes and trading groundnuts. However, Akintola seeing no good in opposing these powerful and politically artful northerners, then ditched Awolowo, formed his own party, and joined the coalition with the northern party.

The Northerners were happy with Akintola’s move and rewarded him tremendously; and using their federal might, they succeeded in deposing Awolowo and his party, and got Akintola elected as the western region’s new leader. But Awolowo, whose supporters were much more in numbers, decisively fought back, thus plunging the western region into spate of crisis. When the violence increased, including an all-for-all brawl at the western-region’s house of parliament, the federal government, under the control of the Northerners blamed it all on Awolowo. He was summarily arrested, tried for treason and then sent to prison. Awolowo’s people, the Western Yoruba were livid; they despised the northerners for treating their revered leader condescendingly, and also, for imposing Akintola on them. Akintola was thought of as a traitor. So also were the Igbo politicians of the eastern region, especially Azikiwe, whom the Yorubas considered slavish and subservient to the northerners.

By the year 1979, after many years of military rule and democracy was restored, the same patterns of politics played out again. The Northern and Eastern region allied and emerged victorious during the elections, at the expense of the Western Yoruba. And then again in 1983, Awolowo and his people were soundly defeated at the polls by the same northern and eastern alliance.

In 1993, when the northern led military government of General Ibrahim Babangida decided to return power back to the politicians and conducted elections, only to cancel it after the western-region and Yoruba candidate, Chief Moshood Abiola had won. The Yorubas were enraged, they held rallies every now then and protested incessantly against the Northern government. Then an apparently desperate Abiola declared himself president, and thus, was promptly arrested and thrown in jail by the military government of General Sani Abacha (a northerner). Bola Tinubu was a close associate of Chief Abiola.

In the year 1999, after several political twists and another long years of military rule by northern military men, democracy returned again. The Northern oligarch, deciding to be considerate, allowed the Western Yorubas to produce the next president. However, even though the two forerunners in the presidential race – Ex-General Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, were both Yoruba men, the Yorubas voted massively for Chief Falae against Obasanjo, being the fact that Obasanjo was the choice of the northern oligarch and was released from prison only just a year earlier and foist into the contest by the northerners. Also, Obasanjo, when he was the military ruler in 1979, had presided over the elections in which their revered leader, Awolowo was defeated by the northerners. Invariably, that had created untold animosity between Obasanjo and Awolowo.

Notwithstanding, Obasanjo and his party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the presidential contest, with votes largely from the northern and eastern region, while Falae’s party – Alliance for Democracy (AD) which was seen as an entrenchment of the old Yoruba political movement and an offshoot of Awolowo’s former political parties, as expected won the Yoruba states, which includes Lagos State, and that was how Bola Tinubu, who contested under AD, became the governor of Lagos State.

During the 2003 elections, Obasanjo who was president, and determined to seize total control of the western region for his party, the PDP, ensured that they won all the western region states. He succeeded with the exception of only one state – Lagos State, where Bola Tinubu was governor and which remained under the AD. Tinubu survived Obasanjo’s onslaught, through his own sheer political astuteness.

Bola Tinubu’s Tactics:
After completing his second term as Lagos governor, Tinubu, as the only surviving governor from AD, then took control of the party. First, he changed the party’s name from AD to Action Congress (AC), which is more or less a rebirth of Awolowo’s party in the 60s, Action Group (AG). Then he began to spread his political tentacles by getting his former aides and associates to contest elections in the western region. The party’s ideology, he ensured, was in the mold of Awolowo’s ideology – known as Awoist. Tinubu limited his operations within the Yoruba enclaves, but for the presidential election, he did something quite remarkably different, he gave the party’s presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar, the embattled Vice-President and a Hausa-Fulani northerner. Although after the elections, the AC could only win Lagos State, Tinubu, tenaciously went to court and won back even more states. His loyalist and political protégé became governors, senators and federal representative. Tinubu did not bother with the presidential election result. It was not yet the time.

During the 2011 elections, Tinubu redoubled his influence over the political terrain of the western region, and his party, which now goes by the name Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), won even more elections. But just as he had done in 2007, a northerner was again his party’s presidential candidate. In 2013, Tinubu made his final push, he went into an alliance with another northern party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a party led by Ex-General Muhammadu Buhari, a widely perceived northern fundamentalist and the party, CPC itself is ideologically pro-northern, and basically the replica of the northern region’s party of the 60s, Northern People’s Congress (NPC). Thus, marking the very first time a pro-western Yoruba led party would be aligning itself with their politically sworn enemies, a pro-northern Hausa-Fulani political party. The newly formed party was called “All Progressive Congress (APC)” and Tinubu, was henceforth called the national leader of the party. He makes the most important calls within the party, including nominating the party’s vice presidential candidate. And when the party eventually won the next presidential election, with votes gotten essentially from the north and west. Tinubu got his loyalist appointed into several key positions as federal ministers, head of agencies and more. He had finally gotten the power at the federal level he had long sought.

Interpretation
Bola Tinubu wanted power at the federal level. For all purpose and intent, he always had a presidential ambition. Knowing the merits of grassroots politics, his first step was to entrench himself into his ethnic and regional politics by espousing the ideology of the revered leader, Awolowo. Then after gaining acceptance regionally, and knowing that only an alliance with the powerful North and their superior numerical strength could guarantee his success at the federal level, a sacrosanct window which the intransigent Awolowo failed to see, or better still, imprudently failed to exploit.
But if he had made such alliance with the northerners all at once, he could easily lose his local support base, and would have certainly backfired seeing how Awolowo’s deputy in the 60s, Chief Samuel Akintola who had made the same move stirred up resentments from the majority of the Western Yorubas. Basically, what Bola Tinubu did was to employ the same strategy as Mao Tse-Tung had done in China – who constantly cloaked his revolutionary ideas in the past, making it legitimate and comforting in the people’s eye. Tinubu also cloaked his political maneuvers in the envelope of the ideology of the legendary western-region leader, Awolowo, which is the most acceptable and comforting to the Yoruba people, while ultimately adopting Akintola’s strategy – an alliance with the North – which Awolowo had vehemently opposed; that way, he got what he wanted – power and influence at the federal level without losing that which he already has – a grip on the local politics of his region.
The overwhelming success of Tinubu tactics further amplifies the import of this sacred Law of never reforming too much at once.

Takeaway Quote
“Pay lip service to tradition. Identify the elements in your revolution that can be made to seem to build on the past. Say the right things, make a show of conformity, and meanwhile let your theories do their radical work.”
-Robert Greene

Excerpts is from my book “Transgressions and and Observances of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria”
available on Amazon Kindle.
Find it on Amazon with the serial number: B09S3YZ465

NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email: serrickbytes@gmail.com

spidey77:
Truth has never been less said...

Thank you

Law 7: GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT

JUDGMENT
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW
David Adedeji Adeleke was born into an affluent family. The Adelekes have amassed a large fortune from politics and business. Isiaka Adeleke, David’s uncle, was a one-time governor and a senator. Chief Adedeji Adeleke, David’s father is a wealthy business tycoon with an estimated net worth of $300 million. His huge fortune gotten from business ventures in steel, oil, gas and more; thus, when David decided to drop out of the US College he was attending, to pursue a career in music, his rich father was furious and even had him arrested at the airport when he returned to Nigeria with tattoos and piercings instead of the degree in business management he was sent to America to acquire.

After the incident, David, then still a teenager, reached a compromise with his father, which would let him attend a university close by and then after getting the business degree, he would be allowed to pursue his singing ambition. But soon after enrolling in the university which was only a couple of hours drive from Lagos, the entertainment hub of Africa, David began skipping classes and attending parties, shows and musical concerts in Lagos. Leveraging on his father’s wealth, David hobnobbed with established musicians and famous celebrities in the Nigerian entertainment industries, learning more about the trade and honing his musical skills. In 2011, by the time David was ready to release his first album, he did something quite remarkably different; using his rich pocket, he hired a couple of very good songwriters (a practice that was uncommon in the Nigerian music scene at that time) and paid them handsomely. He got himself experienced managers and worked with the best music producers to produce his songs. For his music videos, David hired the top, most sought after video directors that the other new artists of his level cannot afford. David also paid for a lot of publicity such that by the time his first album, “Omo Baba Olowo” — a Yoruba term translating to “the son of a rich man” dropped, his songs were top notch for a new entrant. One of his songs from the album, “Dami Duro” became an instant hit nationwide and became the dominant track on radio stations, clubs and parties.

David, now famously known as “Davido” continued the same path, and in no time, he became a superstar musician in Africa and one of the most influential entertainers of his time. He got his own record label, and his songs were featured on billboards and other music charts
around the world. He worked and featured in several world class hit songs and collaborated with some of the world’s biggest singers. In 2015, Davido featured American rapper Meek Mill in a song titled, “Fans Mi”. Following the song was a spectacular music video. Davido reportedly paid the American the sum of $200,000. He performs on grand stages globally, gets invited to perform at high class occasions, one of such was the wedding of A-list Hollywood actor, Idris Elba in 2019.

Davido’s personal life became the public’s cravings. He secured many endorsement and deals from several local and international brands; and in 2016, he signed a record deal with the world’s biggest music company, Sony Music. Davido has several other talented singers under him signed to his personal record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), and many of these singers became superstars as well, while in the same vein, the shrewd David, employs them to write some of the most amazing songs for him.

Interpretation
At the time when Davido forayed into the Nigerian music scene, the industry was becoming saturated; and was being dominated by some other more successful artiste like D’banj, Wande Coal and the twin brothers, PSquare. These successful singers had actually been in the music industry for very long years and had earned their spot in the limelight before the saturation state. For Davido whose ambition is to reach the level of those successful artists, he had to face an even more difficult competition from his mates. Vocally, he was at the disadvantage; his voice, if anything, sounds strangled and as his vocals were not as good as that of his arch rivals. More also, most of his mates were signed by some of the most successful artists who have been grooming them for several years. Thus, to make up for his deficits and catch up faster, he had to take a smarter route — the hiring of songwriters and producers and getting himself a top-notch management, all of which he paid for handsomely. Davido’s actions were not by chance, but a careful and crafty design. “My business decisions are not by accident”, he stated in an interview. “I have a father who is a billionaire. When he tells me to make this move, I listen to him”. Many times, news media reportage comes up with tales about how this artist or that person wrote one or the other of Davido’s hit songs; these people are negligible, because in the end, it is Davido’s name and photo that adorns the covers of those songs and he gets paid huge sums to sing those songs at VIP parties. He takes the glory for those beautiful songs that even his father, who used to be against his son’s musical career at the outset, now dances heartily to Davido’s songs.

Only the unwise wastes their time and energy doing the work others can do for them. Davido’s remarkable success comes not from his musical prowess, but from his ingenuity of getting others to do the work for him while he takes the credit.

Takeaway Quote
“Time is precious and life is short. If you try to do it all on your own, you run yourself ragged, waste energy, and burn yourself out. It is far better to conserve your forces, pounce on the work others have done, and find a way to make it your own.”
-Robert Greene

Excerpts is from my book “Transgressions and and Observances of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria”
available on Amazon Kindle.
Find it on Amazon with the serial number: B09S3YZ465

NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email: serrickbytes@gmail.com

Law 1
NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER

JUDGMENT
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
-Robert Greene, 48 laws of power

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW

In 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo brought together a couple of his ministers and aides to form a group called “The Economic Team”. Their task was to come up with sound economic ideas for the government. The Economic Team, which was to be chaired by the finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, had about 11 other members, among which was the President’s economic adviser, Charles Soludo.

As the economic team got to work, Soludo soon became unhappy about the dominant position of Ngozi, the team’s chairperson. It appeared to him that she was in effect stealing the spotlight, and taking sole credits for most of the team’s work. “Why should I put in lots of effort and hard work and just hand it over to her?” he had complained. “Must she be the only voice for the team? Why can’t I get publicly recognized as well?” And when he could no longer bear being overshadowed by Ngozi’s presence, Soludo stopped attending the economic team’s meetings and broke away. He then focused on his primary job as the president’s economic adviser.

Soludo was bright and intelligent. He furnished the President with several brilliant ideas, and had a way of presenting it to the public in such a way that the credits would be to the President’s. He time and again made it look as if the brilliant economic policies were originally all of the President’s visions, and was always full of praise and admiration for his boss. He got closer to the president, visited him regularly in his office and often joined him for morning prayers at the presidential villa’s chapel. Months later, in 2004, Soludo’s fawning efforts paid off, when the president appointed him the governor of the country’s apex bank – The Central Bank of Nigeria.

Interpretation
As the central bank governor, Charles Soludo was very conspicuous and was very much seen and heard of. Over the years, even after leaving the Central Bank, Soludo never stopped talking about his times there and often boasted about being the best governor of the central bank the country has ever had.
Also, right after the central bank job, he joined politics and contested for the governorship elections of his home state in 2009. This is a clear indication that Soludo had always had political ambitions – reason why he craved public recognition right from the start. He tried realizing his goal with the economic team and had no worries dragging the spotlight with Ngozi, she was not the master, only a fellow courtier – albeit a senior one. But with the master – President Obasanjo, who is well known to be very vain, Soludo played smarter; he adroitly let Obasanjo take all the glory and ingratiate himself with the president. In the end, he was rewarded with the top job at the central bank – a position of much more relevance, from which he easily got publicly acknowledged, and even had his names printed on the naira notes – the country’s currency. Soludo got that which he had always wanted by observing the first law of power.

Takeaway Quote
“If your ideas are more creative than your master's, ascribe them to him, in as public a manner as possible. Make it clear that your advice is merely an echo of his advice.”
-Robert Greene

Side Note:
How to be a politician
A godfather can be the blessing to your hustle or the tool to your downfall. Never ever allow anyone to print your photo in the same size as that of your godfather on the same billboard or newspaper ad. Your photo must always be smaller and beneath that of your godfather.
Be(com)ing Nigerian, Elnathan John

Excerpts from my book "Transgressions and and Observances of the 48 Laws of Power in Nigeria
available on Amazon Kindle.
Find it on Amazon with the serial number: B09S3YZ465


NB: If you require a creative ghost writer for your memoirs, autobiographies, tell-all-tales, reach me via
email:serrickbytes@gmail.com

Soludo deserves it...congratulation