Politics Is Not a Gentleman’s Game: Understanding Tinubu’s “All Is Fair” Doctrine

By Idowu Ephraim Faleye

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent statement that “all is fair in politics” has generated strong reactions across Nigeria. Some people have interpreted the statement as proof that he intends to undermine democracy and hold on to power at all costs. Others have described it as a dangerous confession from a desperate leader. Those interpretations have become the foundation of several articles and commentaries. However, before we rush to condemn the statement, we should first understand the nature of politics itself and the context in which such words are often spoken.

Politics has never been a gentle occupation. It has never been a place where the weak simply walk in and receive power because they deserve it. Throughout history, politics has always been a contest of ideas, influence, organization, strategy, negotiation, endurance, and sometimes fierce rivalry. It is a battlefield without bullets, where victory belongs to those who prepare better, organize better, persuade better, and outsmart their opponents. That reality may sound uncomfortable, but it is one that every serious student of politics understands.

Many people like to compare politics with religion, where kindness, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice are the highest virtues. Politics does not operate by the same rules. Politics is about competition. Every candidate wants to win. Every political party wants to secure power. Every campaign is designed to gain an advantage over opponents. Nobody enters an election with the intention of finishing second.

This is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is the reality in every democratic country. Political parties invest enormous resources into campaigns. They hire experts, build alliances, mobilize supporters, study opponents, and develop strategies that will improve their chances of victory. Every lawful advantage is pursued because nobody wants to lose. That is simply how political competition works.

For this reason, expecting a sitting president to fold his arms while opponents work day and night to remove him from the office is unrealistic. Every incumbent president, governor, senator, or chairman seeks to protect his political position. Every opposition party seeks to take that position away. That struggle is the essence of politics. It is therefore surprising that some people now pretend to be shocked that an experienced politician acknowledges the competitive nature of politics.

President Tinubu did not wake up one morning and became president through luck. His political journey spans several decades. Whether one supports him or opposes him, it is difficult to deny that his rise has been built on persistence, planning, and political resilience. His journey has been marked by victories, disappointments, betrayals, setbacks, and recoveries. Few politicians in modern Nigeria have remained relevant for as long as he has.

There were times when powerful forces tried to frustrate his political ambitions. There were moments when many believed his presidential dream had come to an end. There were powerful interests within and outside his political party that preferred other candidates. There were political calculations designed to weaken his influence and close the door against his ambition. Yet he refused to surrender.

Instead of giving up, he continued negotiating, building alliances, adjusting strategies, and strengthening his political structure. When others believed the road had ended, he found another path. When obstacles appeared before him, he looked for ways around them instead of abandoning the journey. Whether one admires him or not, that level of determination deserves recognition because it demonstrates resilience under pressure.

It is therefore difficult to expect such a politician to suddenly become passive simply because another election is approaching. Politics is not a retirement home where ambitions quietly disappear. Every serious politician wants to remain relevant. Every elected leader wants another opportunity to continue in office. That is not unique to Tinubu. It has happened throughout Nigeria’s democratic history and in democracies across the world.

Those who wish to remove him from office have every constitutional right to do so. Democracy gives them that opportunity. They are free to organize, campaign, criticize the government, present alternatives, and seek the support of Nigerian voters. However, they should also understand that the president will equally organize, campaign, defend his record, and mobilize support. That is how democracy functions.

Expecting one side to fight while the other side remains silent is not democracy. Expecting an incumbent president to surrender political advantage voluntarily is unrealistic. Politics rewards preparation, not wishful thinking. It rewards organization, not emotional speeches. Those who desire power must demonstrate that they possess the strength, discipline, and strategy required to earn the confidence of voters.

That is why crying for sympathy has never won elections. Sympathy may produce headlines, but it does not automatically produce votes. Elections are won through planning, grassroots mobilization, coalition building, voter education, effective messaging, and sustained political engagement. Those who cannot organize themselves should not blame their opponents for being better prepared.

President Tinubu himself has experienced political defeats and disappointments. Yet he never remained on the ground after falling. He stood up, reorganized, and continued the struggle. That has been one of the defining characteristics of his political life. He has consistently shown that setbacks are temporary if one possesses determination and strategic thinking.

Many Nigerians still remember periods when powerful political forces attempted to isolate him. Many believed his influence would disappear. Instead, he rebuilt his political networks and remained one of the most influential figures in Nigerian politics. That ability to recover from adversity explains why many people describe him as one of the country’s most experienced political strategists.

Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite their political disagreements over the years, has acknowledged Tinubu’s political intelligence and strategic ability. Such recognition from a long-time political rival carries significance. It suggests that Tinubu’s reputation as a skilled politician is not merely the product of praise from his supporters. It is a reputation earned through years of active political engagement.

This is why comparing Tinubu’s political style with that of former President Goodluck Jonathan may not provide an accurate picture. Every leader has a different personality. Jonathan approached politics with a different temperament. Tinubu has built his career around negotiation, coalition building, persistence, and strategic calculation. Neither style is automatically right or wrong; they are simply different approaches to political leadership.

Some critics have interpreted the phrase “all is fair in politics” as though it automatically means that elections will be rigged or democracy will be destroyed. That conclusion goes beyond what the statement itself establishes. Political statements are often rhetorical and open to interpretation. The real test of democracy is not a single sentence spoken at a political gathering but the actual conduct of elections, the independence of institutions, and respect for the rule of law.

Of course, Nigerians have every right to remain vigilant. Democracy survives when citizens pay attention and hold leaders accountable. Nobody should discourage constructive criticism. Nobody should suggest that government actions must never be questioned. A healthy democracy requires active citizens, responsible opposition parties, independent institutions, and a free press.

However, criticism should be based on facts rather than assumptions. It is dangerous to interpret every political statement as evidence of dictatorship before corresponding actions occur. Public debate should be guided by evidence. When criticism loses balance and becomes driven entirely by fear or political emotion, it weakens the quality of democratic conversation.

It is also important to acknowledge that the country is currently facing serious economic hardship. Millions of Nigerians are struggling with rising prices, declining purchasing power, and the increasing cost of living. These realities cannot be ignored or dismissed. Every responsible government must continue searching for practical solutions that reduce hardship and improve the welfare of citizens.

At the same time, it would also be inaccurate to claim that absolutely nothing has changed within the economy. Nigeria’s economy is undergoing painful structural adjustments following major policy reforms. While many citizens are yet to feel meaningful relief, some economic indicators suggest movement away from prolonged stagnation. Whether those reforms will ultimately deliver lasting benefits remains a matter for time and continuous evaluation.

Serious economic reforms rarely produce immediate comfort. They often involve short-term pain before long-term gains become visible. That does not excuse the government from its responsibility to cushion hardship. It simply means that judging every reform solely by today’s difficulties may not provide the complete picture. The final verdict should depend on measurable outcomes over time.

Similarly, security challenges remain a major concern across different parts of the country. Nigerians deserve safety regardless of where they live. Every government must be judged by its ability to protect lives and property. Yet security problems in Nigeria did not begin with this administration alone, and solving them requires sustained effort rather than quick political slogans.

Ultimately, the 2027 election will not be decided by newspaper headlines or social media arguments alone. It will be decided by Nigerian voters. If citizens believe the current administration deserves another term, they will vote accordingly. If they believe another candidate offers a better future, they also possess the constitutional right to make that choice through the ballot box.

Therefore, opposition parties should focus more on convincing Nigerians than on expecting political concessions from the incumbent. They should build stronger structures, present practical alternatives, recruit credible candidates, and engage voters consistently. Democracy rewards those who persuade the electorate, not those who merely complain about the strength of their opponents. Political victories are earned through preparation and public trust.

The reality remains that politics has never been a game for the timid. It demands courage, resilience, discipline, patience, and strategic thinking. Those qualities have shaped the careers of successful politicians across different countries and generations. Anyone who enters politics expecting a comfortable journey may quickly discover that the field is far more demanding than imagined.

President Tinubu’s statement may have offended many people because of its bluntness. However, blunt words do not automatically amount to a rejection of democracy. They may simply reflect the mindset of a politician who has spent decades navigating one of the most competitive political environments in Nigeria’s history. His words should certainly be examined critically, but they should also be interpreted with fairness and context.

As Nigerians move closer to another election cycle, emotions will continue to rise. Political statements will become sharper, campaigns will become more intense, and public debate will become more heated. That is the nature of competitive democracy. What matters most is that every political actor, including the government, opposition parties, electoral institutions, security agencies, civil society, and citizens, remains committed to constitutional principles and peaceful political competition.

In the end, those who seek to replace President Tinubu should remember one important lesson. Power has never been handed over because opponents wished for it. It has always been won through superior organization, stronger ideas, wider public support, and determined political engagement. If anyone believes he can take power from Tinubu, then the answer is not to seek sympathy but to build the political strength necessary to defeat him at the ballot box. That is the true nature of democratic politics, and it is a lesson every serious contender must understand.

Idowu Ephraim Faleye is a freelance political writer based in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

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