Hello,

How are you today?

We are already so close to the end of February. Was it not just yesterday we were saying, “Welcome to 2022?” We continue to thank God for life and the opportunities that each day presents.

Speaking of opportunities, today is a great day to wrap up the reading of my January book of the month. I have been busy with so many activities that I have not had as much time to finish this book. In my January newsletter, I introduced the book “You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington” by Alexis Coe.

A few points stand out for me about America’s first president as catalogued in this book. These are points I think that people running for political office today need to bear in mind. According to this writer, there has been so much focus on Washington’s military prowess that many people forget that he was a diplomat and political strategist, and these played an even more significant role in his emergence as America’s first.

For example, when Washington arrived in Philadelphia to participate in the congress, he “was everywhere”. He visited the rich and drank in ‘local taverns”. He also made an appearance in “nearly every church”. Washington was the true definition of the “man of the people”. He was even willing to serve in the army without pay. And here is the main point: “Washington was quietly campaigning before there was anything to officially campaign for.”

Washington knew that the British forces were better equipped and more experienced than his own troops but he also knew he had political strategy and diplomacy in his hands. And this is how to fight an unwinnable war: It is to start fighting before anyone realises there is a war. In a way, America had won the war of the mind even before the first shot was fired. They were determined to win.

Even today, you can tell when a politician is ready to win an election. When people ask who are the likely candidates to win any election, some names are always presented first. These are individuals who have been “quietly campaigning before there was anything to officially campaign for.”

So, if you are thinking of joining politics now, 2027 would be a good year to keep in focus. Because if there is something I have learnt from my book of the month, it is that to fight an ‘unwinnable war’ and win is a long-term project that requires good political strategy and diplomacy. Washington used both, and he was able to defeat a world power. Anyone serious about rescuing Nigeria should be ready to do the same.

Please stay safe. Remember, COVID-19 vaccines are still available for free at Primary Healthcare Centres in Oyo State.