Edo state gubernatorial elections took place on the past saturday and the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki has been declared the winner.

Why is this news?

If you haven't been following, let me give you a quick run down of the gist.

Adams Oshiomole was the APC governor of Edo state from 2008 to 2016. Godwin Obaseki, who was one of the most influential persons in his government, later ran for governor and won in 2016. At the time Rev. Ize Iyamu was his opponent on the PDP platform.

Edo was a PDP state before Oshiomole came in as an APC governor. Due to his good performance, the people voted APC again and Obaseki continued for 4 years as governor. Shortly before the end of his first term, he started having troubles with his "godfather", ex-governor Oshiomole. I won't bore you with the details, but the bottomline was that APC rejected Obaseki's quest for a second term. He promptly went ahead to pitch his tents with their nemesis, PDP.

APC floated Ize-Iyamu as their candidate who by now had crossed from PDP to APC.

Funny story. But the news is that Obaseki (now in PDP) has been declared the winner of the election.

Now, why am I telling you this story?

I want you to cast your minds to when something similar happened in Lagos in 2011. When ex-governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu fell out with his successor, Babatunde Fashola after one term and wanted to do away with him. He sensed that Fashola was popular and didn't want to risk him moving to another party and taking the votes with him. So they patched things up. And Lagos has since remained an APC state.

This singular thing that Oshiomole did not do has cost their party a whole state! Edo is today back as a PDP state!

So how does all this concern you?

In life, you have to learn to CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. And know when to RETREAT and negotiate for peace.

Oshiomole believed that Edo was so sold to APC, that they would never vote for PDP. He underestimated the support people would have for a working governor. As we would say in Nigeria, "He never hessperedit!"

This week, do not underestimate your opponent. Collaboration is the new form of competition. Instead of competing, make partnerships, come together even temporarily, and achieve your goal. Stay focused on the goal. If APC had been focused on the goal of keeping Edo state, instead of thinking more of dissing Obaseki, they could have done better and saved themselves this embarrassing defeat.

What is your business/ career/ personal goal?

Who is standing in your way of achieving it?

Who seems to be your competition?

Can you reach out to the person and negotiate for a collaboration?

In all you do, Think Win-win!

It is another new week and I am here rooting for you. Don't kill yourself by yourself.

Till I come your way again,

I remain,

Brenda Unu