A visit to the President at the seat of power should never be trivialized as a mere social outing or a vacation in a five-star park. For Governors, Ministers, and Directors-General, the Villa is not a tourist destination or a backdrop for personal bragging rights. The common habit of visiting simply to boast, “I was with the President yesterday,” must give way to a more serious, intellectual engagement. When an official enters those gates, the atmosphere should shift from one of casual leisure to one of intense, purposeful learning.

Every official encounter whether it is a formal dinner, a political party caucus, or a policy discussion must be intentionally tailored toward the acquisition of political knowledge. The President is widely recognized as a great Strategist, and his visitors should treat every conversation as a lecture in high-level maneuvering. It is highly recommended that visitors adopt a jotting down approach; by taking notes during these sessions, they can systematically tap into a reservoir of wisdom that has been refined over decades of leadership.

A meeting with the President is a unique opportunity to boost one’s political IQ and resolve complex mysteries inherent in high-ranking positions. Instead of focusing on mundane administrative requests, officials should prepare thought-provoking questions that relate directly to the improvement of the country at large. By engaging the President on this level, they move beyond the surface of governance and begin to understand the underlying mechanics that drive national progress.

The President is described as being soaked with political grace, a quality that permeates his presence and is available to those around him. For any politician or public servant, standing in his presence is an opportunity to soak themselves in that same dripping grace. His “hands of political knowledge” are never folded or hidden away; rather, they are always open, inviting those with the foresight to learn and take from his vast experience.

Consider the powerful anecdote of an individual who approached Bola Ahmed Tinubu before he became President, seeking financial help for an eatery business. Tinubu’s response was a defining lesson in mentorship: “Do you want my money, or do you want to pick from my brain?” By choosing to “pick from his brain,” the individual received something far more valuable than a simple handout. Tinubu placed a strategic call to a contact in the UK, which resulted in a £100,000 grant and, more importantly, a wealth of guidance that birthed a successful, sustainable business.

Alhaji Tejumade gave an account of his experience with Asiwaju some years ago when Tinubu was governor of Lagos state, he revealed that some commissioners came in to the same room to pay a tribute visit to him, cutting the long story short, on their way out after the visit these commissioners handed some group of his domestic staff ₦2000 each, on seeing the amount that was given to these domestic workers, Tinubu was furious saying to the workers “return the money to them” claiming his workers are not hungry. He said he has put appropriate measures in place so they can empower others not give them money to eat, almost instantly the commissioners started handing ₦200,000 above to this workers. That’s an opportunity to learn something from the president within a small opening of just greeting

We can look to Bishop David Oyedepo’s Canaanland as a point of reference for this kind of mentorship. Whenever a state pastor or minister visits that headquarters, they do not view the trip as a routine trip for information. Instead, they see it as a golden opportunity to receive a special something be it a spiritual gift or specialized leadership training. In the same way, a visit to the President should be viewed as an occasion for professional and political impartation that transcends the basic purpose of the meeting.

The only true way to duplicate the President’s enduring legacy is to actively acquire his political knowledge during every encounter. This principle is proven by groups like the BAT-IG, who have achieved significant success by studying his teachings and methods even from a distance. One does not always need to be in the inner circle to learn; by adopting the President’s philosophies and strategic framework, his supporters can replicate his successes across various levels of government and business.

A meeting with the President is like a small window through which a Mount Kilimanjaro-sized volume of knowledge can pass in a very short time. To understand the depth of this resource, one can look to the music of Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde, who sang, “Amusa ni ilu Eko ko ni gbe” meaning the blessings and resources of Lagos are like a river that never dries. Similarly, the President’s knowledge is an inexhaustible river; it is a constant flow of wisdom that remains available to all who are willing to drink from it.

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Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring and a publisher at Unfiltered and Mining Reporting

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Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring and a publisher at Unfiltered and Mining Reporting