By Usman Abdulkadir Taleeki
The inspiration of this title for my piece is from the A Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R. R. Martin, or some may also refer to its TV show adaptation, which has become one of the most popular series of this century: The Game of Thrones. During the “Battle of the Whispering Woods,” when Robb Stark marches south to save his father from the Lannisters after he was captured in King’s Landing, Robb’s strategy led to ambushing and eventually capturing the leader of the Lannister army, Jaime Lannister, famously known as the Kingslayer. Then Jaime, confident in his own skill, tried to trick Robb into fighting him in one-on-one combat. In his words he said to Robb, “You fight for the Starks and I fight for the Lannisters, so swords, nails, teeth, lances, choose your weapon, and let’s end this here and now.” But Robb’s response was calm and measured: “If we do it your way, Kingslayer, you do win but we are not going to do it your way.” Yes, Robb avoided the fight in front of his soldiers. “Wetin do his steeze?” some might say. But indeed, that was the right thing to do. Jaime Lannister is widely believed to be among the top swordsmen in the history of Westeros. Fighting him one-on-one, for whatever reason, would have been a suicidal mission. Robb knew that, understood the stakes, and acted with wisdom and restraint.
So why does this come to mind now? It is because of the recent public feuds between Mallam Nasir Elrufai and his former close friend, Nuhu Ribadu. Firstly, let me analyze this carefully and make it very clear that anybody familiar with the workings of Nigerian politics will definitely agree that, from all points of assessment, the activism work Malam Nasir exhibits recently is not from all angles of honesty in activism. It is mixed with some personal feelings of being cheated, disappointed, or let down by close friends whom he once trusted. In other words, while it has elements of genuine activism, it is deeply intertwined with politics, personal ambition, and emotional frustration. But fully explaining that aspect may be something for another day; it is not the main focus of this piece. The essence here is in the strategic behavior displayed by the actors involved.
Elrufai has been publicly dragging Ribadu to media for more than a year now, calling on him to clarify certain issues and effectively “fight” him in the public arena. Despite repeated calls for Ribadu to respond or defend himself, he has remained steadfastly silent. Why? Because, despite how intelligent, fiery, and articulate we all know Elrufai as when it comes to verbally crushing opponents, Ribadu knows him far better than most of us. Ribadu understands Elrufai’s strengths, his patterns, and importantly, the dangers of engaging him in a public confrontation where the outcome could be unpredictable or damaging.
Prior to this feud, the two men were very close. I have read the books published by both leaders My Story, My Vision by Ribadu and Accidental Public Servant by Elrufai, and in both works, whenever each mentions the other, they describe him as a reservoir of competence, intelligence, and admirable attributes. This history illustrates that the two not only shared professional respect but also had deep knowledge of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This mutual understanding is central to why Ribadu has chosen restraint over confrontation.
Currently, Ribadu serves in the office of the NSA, a role that does not require constant public engagement or commentary. Some may assume his silence is simply due to the nature of his position. But anyone who knows Ribadu would understand that he is deliberately choosing not to engage. He knows the type of battle Elrufai seeks and understands that confronting him directly in the media would not serve a strategic purpose. It is not only Ribadu; very few active Nigerian politicians, if any, could confidently confront Elrufai in such a situation and emerge without reputational or political damage.
Robert Greene, in his 48 Laws of Power, says, “Know who you are dealing with.” This principle is crucial in both politics and strategy. Engaging an opponent without fully understanding their capabilities or the battlefield is almost always a losing proposition. By exercising patience, assessment, and restraint, Ribadu demonstrates an understanding of strategy reminiscent of Robb Stark’s wisdom in Westeros. Sometimes the wisest decision is not to fight immediately but to control the timing, location, and manner of confrontation.
This piece is not intended to fully analyze every detail of the saga between Elrufai and Ribadu. Rather, it seeks to observe and highlight the pattern and strategies at play. It is a fascinating dynamic of intelligence, foresight, and political calculation. Watching how it unfolds provides valuable lessons on power, restraint, and the art of strategy. Just as Robb Stark avoided a fight he could not win, Ribadu, too, chooses not to engage in a confrontation that could compromise his position or reputation. And as the story continues, it will remain an interesting case study in both Nigerian politics and human behavior in positions of power.
Abuja Network News
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