Romancing the Policy Maker

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. Not only do you have to master whatever the product or service is, you have to also master selling it to …everybody including politicians! If you thought the life of an entrepreneur isn’t as bad as we sometimes make it out to be, join me as we try to walk a mile in the shoes of an entrepreneur. 

So, you finally got an invitation by the senator. The taxi cab drops you and you pick up your gate pass at the main gate of the House of Assembly in Abuja. You and hundreds of other drone enthusiasts and professionals alike have been lining up for this talk to get that ever-so-covetted Security Clearance negotiated with the National Security Adviser. The NASS shuttle that picked you up from the main gate comes to a halt in front of this magnanimous building. This would be your eighth visit in less than three months. The security staff help direct you to a large lobby area to take a seat.

Your palms are sweaty, your heart pounding out of your chest. You feel like you carry the weight of two hundred men on your shoulder. You know your team back home are counting on you to come back with the good news. You guys have spent countless hours preparing for this final leg to legitimately commence operation of your drone business within the Nigerian skies. This one last leg to the finish line can either 'break or make' the team. It's bad enough that this is all on you then you remember we are in Nigeria where hardly anything goes as it's supposed to [wink]. 

At that moment you sit there and run through everything in your head. You are a citizen; you abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria that protects public order and public security under Chapter 1, Part II, Section 11 k, subsection 25 g. Under the 3rd article, Part I of the Federal Executive Bodies established by Section 153, . You should also make it clear you understand that "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government" ref Chapter II Sec. 14 subsection 2,b.

You know the law of the land! The fundamental rights of every citizen for a private family life and personal data protection in their homes/ and community with others and in public: referenced in Chapter IV section 37 to be guaranteed and protected.

During my last couple visits, I had one of the Omo Onile from one of the village communities from the southside of Ogunpa, Ibadan. While winced most of the time under my nerves, that guy was jovial, connecting with people around the House and helping me relax. This time I'm on my own; a calculated experiment considering I've been here multiple times and to save costs, I chose to go alone. My quick first lesson on this miscalculation was getting sidelined while others went through. I waited... and waited.

"Is there's no history in the House?" I wondered. "Nobody remembers you". I was quickly schooled by one of the security officers in a polite enough manner. "You say nobody remember you?" he sarcastically asked "We remember you now, guy". He explained a few things without saying much. I realized I was still new to this whole lobbying. You drop the ball once and you could find yourself at the back of the net. Impressions matter - all the time especially if you didn't leave one the last time [hint].

I was planning to enter uncharted territories in my effort to cloak the entire country with a single market penetration strategy. I'd learnt the game and re-engineered a few faults in my thought process shifting a few ideas around in the entire project. It was vital I reorient. My letters were not working. They were not being read and I needed to protect my intellectual humility and arrived with my letters. Instead of having them read it, I simply sat before the official and summarized it for him/ her right there. That got my letters signed and processed faster.

Each time I return to Abuja and have to meet and repeat it was a bit frustrating. But I found this quite fascinating. The frequency at which the policymakers change positions. had nothing to do with the calibre of policymakers but the way that government operates. Staff have to change jobs frequently if they want to be promoted, hindering the accumulation of true expertise. They are no different from the rest of us; they have to circulate with departmental reorganizations in pursuit of their own career reasons.

With 109 senators and about 360 house reps to cover in my approach, I learnt to group them in particular order. I got insight into the availability, reputation and interests of as many of them as I could. Listening and learning from their constituents was vital. Also being in Abuja where they work, you learnt their personalities further. I needed this to be smart at executing. I also studied my competitors, nay-sayers and trolls. Initially it seemed like I needed to continue walking this path alone but when I collaborated, I got more insight. For example, I quickly learnt which buka in Abuja many of the reps and senators went for lunch; the beer parlors they visited to relax on the weekends and also gained insights to upcoming events in town. that way every trip became optimized in strategies!

A disciplined work ethic still doesn't guarantee success with these many officials. however, a bit of emotional intelligence goes a long way with hard work.

I had my routine visits now. Looking at that long list, I relearnt the value of frugality. I learnt squatting at friends, family members and sometimes lodging at really cheap hotels to ease the burden on my people out there.

I got turned down many times which meant I return visit was eminent. Such situations are where the high turnover was great watching the merry-go-round hoping the next on that seat will be more favorable. It's a continuous effort.

Leftover thoughts...

Learning a thing or two about the representatives in the house sometimes goes a long way. When I learnt that the Bende constituency House Rep, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje-Elendu's father was a decorated pilot with the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Airways, I sorted more of my connections in the Nigeria aviation circles.

Similarly, Late Peter Bello who was loved by many; a pilot at Bristow Helicopters, lost his life on 12 August 2015 when his helicopter crashed into Lagos Lagoon. Natively hailing from Calabar but I learnt he spent a good chunk of his life in Lagos, I reached out to his neighborhood legislators. So, the idea of building an aerodrome in his name led us attempting to do so in both Rivers and Lagos simultaneously! That led to a very interesting ordeal of parlaying house reps and senate. 

by Ndubisi Arinze Eze

co-author of Xavier's Flag (A safe haven for vulnerable entrepreneurs and inventors who fall prey to the exploits of business service providers)

Author of Science With An Artitude (self-published apotheosis of a multi-potentialite with a peripatetic identity)