As I predicted last Wednesday while the votes in Guinea’s recent election were being counted, President Alpha Conde has just accomplished a first round knock out reminiscent of the boxing prowess of America’s Mike Tyson, fondly known as Iron Mike.
Conde had predicted this outcome which he accomplished without any of the violence of the past, long before the election probably after having studied and seen the weaknesses of his opponents and knowing that he could easily beat them without a second round.
In the same way Mike Tyson was always confident of victory before a bout knowing the kind of training he had done. A Mike Tyson fight often did not last more than a few minutes; in some cases it will be over while people were still buying tickets at the gate.
What this election in Guinea tells us is that in politics, it pays to know the opponent in and out and to be well organized. Lots of preparation, lots of organizing, lots of fundraising, lots of spiritual and mental energy and above all the ability to remain focused will always pay.
Conde and his team had all of the above. But they also had stupendous OPTIMISM, something like Obama’s Audacity of Hope, but bigger and stronger, in your face, almost rude. That was the clincher in my opinion.
How did I know? Well, I have been a political journalist for over 30 years. 30 years of observing human nature in the political field.
Comments