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PDP Sole-Candidacy: Jonathan's First Crucial Victory Before Election By Showunmi Rex

September 30, 2014

"For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."~ Sun Tzu

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The man Mr Jonathan is someone that doesn't feel comfortable with contests. His rise to power already reflects that. Thus, as much as possible GEJ only submits himself to contests that are seemingly inevitable. Talking about knowing how to fight and run away? You are thinking Big Joe.

An assessment of Jonathan's tactics so far threads in that direction. It's becoming so natural that it looks like the new scripture for morning devotion in Aso Rock is none but Sun Tzu' s Art of War. This man is really picking his battles wisely and it seems to be performing the magic.

By calculation GEJ seemed convinced that to win his party's Presidential Primary would be pyrrhic.  He would need to compromise so many things which changing his running mate may be one of. He won't want to be held hostage by powerful adversaries like OBJ and others. Also, to gamble with a uniting Northern front can be suicidal. He would have been a fool to have envisaged a roller coaster ride with several "mind-prepared" ambushes waiting expectantly.

With all the tantrums that he could employ, including subtle threats of punishment, Big Joe made sure that the endorsements were overwhelming. So cohesive that likes Sule Lamido, Aliyu Babangida and the rests who were hitherto anti-Jonathan suddenly turned soft-critics with equivocal sermons. Somehow GEJ, at least within the PDP, has achieved what Sun Tzu suggested in Chapter 3 of  the Art of War. According to Tzu; "the best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting."

Hence, by choosing the battle and the climate, he holds a firm grip on his party and a soft ride to concentrate fully on crushing the opposition totally. With this clinical finish, from all indications, Jonathan is learning so fast! 

However, what's hard not to learn when the environment is enticing? Power is magnetic enough to drag necessary resources to fight any cause irrespective of it's morality. Mr President is stopping at nothing to make his re-election dream come true. Is this end not worthy enough to justify any means?

Consequently, political strategies have been reduced to how to beat the system and flaunt orders, and politicians are trying their best to think outside "legitimate boxes" without tampering legality. 

Organizations like Transformation Agenda of Nigeria or TAN now runs like a political party with membership base and flag bearer for 2015. Perhaps, if TAN had shown keen interest in "walking alone" in 2015 if could have applied to INEC. But for the now it will exist as a unit of the PDP Conglomerate. That's good news,too for the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu who sees the party as a viable investment should it go public

Also there are also Small scale political groups that have bought the GEJ/TAN franchise which are running into over 8,000 in numbers as one  Associate revealed. Business is real good selling emotions.  It is big hustle and who is to say what becomes of us if we don't support this man? 

There are several issues in the Art of War that are now evident but who dares to point out?  Only one factor is hanging in tomorrow because of the unknown which is never dictated by the whims and caprices of men's actions. It is Night and Day and I wait patiently for its outcome. 

 

 

*Showunmi Rex ( @remirex)