The Strategy Of War: Defeating Political Enemies Without Executive Power Or Party Machinery

*Introduction: Strategy Above Structure*

Politics, like war, is not always won by armies on the field, but by the generals who understand terrain, timing, and human behaviour.

History teaches us that power is not always in the title or office—it is in influence, access, and strategy.

This memo offers both a personal testimony and a strategic outline on how one can emerge victorious even when stripped of conventional political weapons; executive power and party structure.

My journey is proof that ideas, when well-organized and courageously executed, can dislodge the strongest political empires and expose the emptiness behind titles and imposed authority.

*Genesis: My Political Awakening (1999 – 2007)*
My political consciousness began in 1999—not in the glare of television cameras or grand rallies, but in the quiet gesture of printing campaign posters for a then-aspiring councillor, Engr. Mojeed Alabi Balogun. This modest act sparked a relationship that immersed me in grassroots mobilization and exposed me to the mechanics of party organization.

Though I pursued a flourishing professional career across national and international boundaries, I remained politically observant. By 2007, I re-entered the political theatre—not by chance, but by invitation. Engr. Mojeed reactivated my political engine and formally introduced me to some of the finest minds and strongest personalities in Ikeja Politics. This included my late godmother, the political matriarch Yeye Kemi Nelson.

I was never an opportunist. I was an institution-builder.

*The Making of a Strategic Nucleus*
Our group, anchored by Yeye Kemi’s ideological depth and Engr. Mojeed’s tactical brilliance, was a laboratory of political innovation. My office at 33 Gbemisola Street became an unannounced think tank—a war room where grassroots dynamics met elite strategy. We didn’t just meet; we *planned*.

Barr. Idris Balogun was our legal conscience. Mr. Sadeeq Adeleke documented our proceedings with disciplined accuracy. Hon. Edward, with his poetic insight, crafted narratives that resonated. Hon. Ganiu engaged the “omo ilu” constituency, ensuring our messages echoed in local tongues. There are other allies space would not permit me to mention. It was a masterclass in political synergy—organic, principled, and forward-thinking.

These were not rented crowds or media-managed illusions. We were the real architects of what many now parade as legacy.

*The Subversion: When Loyalty Becomes Threat*
But success in politics breeds enemies faster than failure. As my influence grew, envy fermented. And at the demise of our leader, Yeye Kemi Nelson, I was gradually edged out—not due to incompetence, but because I became a mirror too reflective of excellence. Political insecurity disguised itself as discipline. And falsehood was weaponized with precision.

Despite contributing resources, strategy, and vision—even serving effectively as Sole Administrator during a pivotal Local Government transition—I was systematically isolated. Allegations were manufactured. My achievements were downplayed. My presence became uncomfortable for those who had grown used to mediocrity and manipulation.

What changed?
I began to receive open commendations from all tiers of leadership, particularly from Yeye Kemi Nelson—a woman who saw through performance and character. That, to the insecure, was dangerous.

In 2023, I aspired to represent my constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly after stepping down not once, but *thrice*, with firm assurances from leadership that my time would come. When it did, the very structure we built collectively was used as a political weapon *against* me. I was attacked, not just by rivals, but by those who had benefited the most from my sacrifices, time, and resources.

They vowed to ensure I never succeeded. They feared the strength of my convictions and the clarity of my vision. But thank God for Yeye Kemi Nelson, who actually encouraged my 2023 aspiration and Hon. Dr. James Faleke, and other genuine political allies like AKOD, who stood by me and ensured I was not disgraced. And for this, AKOD’s punishment was doubled. There were indeed times when *men tried to play God*.

*The Counter-Offensive: Strategy Without Power*
When stripped of official positions and disconnected from the party’s machinery, most retreat or conform. But those who understand *asymmetrical political warfare* don’t panic—they pivot.

With the timely and strategic support of Hon. Dr James Faleke—a man whose integrity mirrors that of our late matriarch—we regrouped. We embraced silence as a weapon. While they held parties, we held meetings. While they issued threats, we built alliances. While they pushed us down, we spread laterally—beyond Ikeja, across LGAs, even into their own circles.

We equally built inroads into Abuja and GAC😇😎

Our strategy was rooted in classic political maneuvering:

* *Camouflage:* We allowed them to believe we were inactive.
* *Discipline:* We revealed nothing.
* *Penetration:* We had eyes and ears in their war room.
* *Deferral:* We waited for the right moment—not every battle is worth fighting.
* *Consolidation:* We unified disparate allies into one cause-driven force.

What we lacked in structure, we made up for in cohesion. We understood that the true political weapon is *narrative control*, and the battlefield is *public perception*.

*The Symbol of Resistance: AKOD*
Amidst this political turbulence, one figure stood tall—AKOD. Targeted, insulted, resisted—yet unbowed. In our private conversations, he once declared: *“If I perish because I stand for truth and integrity, so be it.”* That is not mere rhetoric. That is leadership carved from steel and scripture.

Under his banner, we refused to sell out. Money was offered. Positions dangled. Threats issued. But we stood firm. Because *what we stood for* was bigger than what they offered.

AKOD became the rallying point—not because he was imposed, but because he was *deserved*.

*Message to the Hypocrites: Loyalty Is Not Weakness*
To those who fed fat on division, here is your bad news:

*Engr. Mojeed Alabi Balogun remains my brother, my political pathfinder, and my mentor.* No revisionism, no bitterness, and certainly no agenda can erase the foundational role he played in my political emergence.

We may not always agree in the heat of political movements, but I am not one to bite the hand that helped shape me. Loyalty, for me, is not transactional—it is generational.

We remain family. Not because it is convenient, but because history demands truth, and my gratitude is too disciplined to be silenced by temporary disagreements.

This is not an olive branch of desperation—it is a statement of dignity, offered not in weakness, but in deep respect and enduring appreciation for a man whose impact on my political journey cannot and will not be denied.

Let those who thrive on quarrels and false divides choke on the news: *We are not enemies. We never were.*

*Outcome: A Strategic Victory, Not Just a Political One*
Today, the structure we rebuilt is stronger, wider, and more authentic than what currently claims legitimacy. We did not just “win” back space—we reshaped the battlefield.

Victory is not always defined by appointment or office. It is defined by the *capacity to influence outcomes*—with or without official titles. And that is exactly what we achieved.

*Vision Forward: What We Must Now Guard*
Let this be clear: We are not returning to the old ways. We are not back to play games. AKOD is here to lead with values.

We must reject:

* Segregation within the party.
* The weaponization of party structure against dissenting voices.
* Bullying, intimidation, and the rewriting of true legacy.

We must uphold:

* The unifying ideology of Yeye Kemi Nelson.
* The principle of collective struggle.
* A new standard for youth integration, women empowerment, and leadership renewal.

*Conclusion: Better Days Are Here*
The political warfare we faced was real. But so is the foundation we’ve laid—on truth, discipline, and unity.

Our success is a masterclass in how to defeat entrenched enemies without a single formal tool of power; only the will to fight strategically.

This memo is not just a report. It is a *doctrine*.

In AKOD’s words, *“It is a collective struggle,”* and as we all can now see—“Better days are here.”

*Engr. Taiwo Abiodun, PhD, DBA*
Strategic Architect | Grassroots Mobilizer | Political Reformer
Former Sole Administrator