The human mind is programmed to believe that without political power, you cannot turn community vision into reality. Good intentions alone don’t build roads, run schools, or amend laws; power is presumed to be the only key to execution. BAT-IG has proven this notion completely wrong.

Despite lacking constitutional power, holding no official office, and operating without direct presidential or top-level government endorsements, BAT-IG continues to drive landmark changes in the lives of everyday Nigerians.

The key to this success is mastering the art of influence. Influence is the quiet ability to inspire, guide, and create meaningful change in the lives of others without relying on position, title, or authority. In any organization, the most critical outcomes depend on people who do not report to you. You need the engineering team’s hours, the finance director’s signature, a peer’s cooperation, or a senior leader’s sponsorship. Authority would make it simple; influence makes it possible.

The same principle applies in government parastatals and political settings. Over time, many have relied solely on political proximity and authority to get results. BAT-IG’s success story, however, rests entirely on influence. This is also President Tinubu’s story: driving results at the federal level even when his party was not in power.

Most professionals either avoid these situations entirely or rely on persistence and pressure which only breeds resistance. Those who consistently get things done have learned to create pull instead of push: aligning with others’ goals, building credibility, and making the request easy to accept.

To master this art of influencing without authority, you can apply the LEVER framework. First, Lead with Their Goals by starting from what your target principal cares about rather than what you need for example, acknowledging that hitting their current quarterly target is their top priority. Second, Establish Credibility to show why you and your request are worth trusting, as credibility earns the benefit of the doubt. Third, Voice a Clear Ask by being specific about what you need and when, avoiding vague requests that produce vague results. Fourth, Enlist Allies by bringing along people whose support carry weight, leveraging social proof and sponsorship to multiply your influence. Finally, Reciprocate and Reinforce by giving before you take and acknowledging help publicly; people naturally help those who help them, and they remember who shares the credit.

At BAT-IG, we put the LEVER framework into action by aligning our vision directly with that of the relevant MDAs. Consider the Niger Delta Power Holding Company: their core mandate is to bridge the electricity gap in underserved communities and supply power to commercial and industrial sectors. Understanding their mission, we aligned it with our goal of facilitating government programs to these exact communities, alongside the REA. Then came execution.

We approached them and highlighted the President’s manifesto: building a nation where no citizen goes to bed without electricity and driving toward a 1-trillion-dollar economy. We reminded them of their own targets and emphasized the need to solidify the President as a leader who keeps his word.

Take Rigasa as an example. This community went without electricity for nearly 15 years. Through this framework, we resolved the issue. The same applies to Ilamo in Ogun state and parts of the Ijebu-Ode market, all of which suffered power outages for years until we facilitated solutions. To date, we are facilitating electricity to 20 communities with some at approval and bidding stage, and we are not stopping there.

When you align your goals with your target principal, you will always achieve your objectives. For instance, when we began facilitating development in underserved areas, I sent a letter dated April 2 to all state coordinators directing them to engage their wards, identify priority projects, present them to their local governments, and push for execution. If unsuccessful, projects were sent to the national team. Just two weeks later, the President endorsed ward priority projects, backing them with N17 billion.

Similarly, when we met with the UBEC Executive Secretary in March to advocate for free education for the children of wounded, retired, and fallen military and paramilitary personnel, the President met with service chiefs five days later, upwardly revised their salaries, and mandated decent two-bedroom accommodations for serving personnel. Two months later, he donated his entire salary since assumption of office to the military. When goals align, sparks happen.

During an interview on News Central around the time the President traveled to the UK on a royal invite, I shared that the President receives these invitations because his policies are producing results. He continues to break records, the economy is gaining international recognition, and it was only a matter of time before Trump extended an invitation. Shortly after, Trump sent a letter commending the President’s fight against terrorism, and it has now been confirmed that the President will stand side-by-side with Trump at the UN General Assembly. These were all outcomes predicted well in advance. It proves that as long as our vision remains solid and clear, it will always align with the President’s vision.

We are dedicated followers of the President. Whenever we notice a gap in his manifesto, we patch it up and suggest actionable ideas, which the President consistently adopts. This is how we get things done. Nigerians can adopt this blueprint to become the change they wish to see while being rewarded in the process. We started as volunteers, and today, by God’s grace, we earn from it.

Let’s practice influencing without authority. Think of one objective you need from someone you don’t manage. Before making your request, write down their top priority for this quarter and identify how your request aligns with it. Lead with that connection, and notice how differently people respond when your ask begins with their goal rather than yours.

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