Nigeria, May 20 -- For Nigeria's perennial presidential contender, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, there may be an unlikely source of political inspiration across the Atlantic: Arsenal F.C. and their dramatic 2026 English Premier League triumph. Yes, football and politics may appear worlds apart, the truth is that both are arenas where patience, strategy, resilience and timing determine ultimate victory.

For years, Arsenal lived in the shadows of more dominant rivals. Critics mocked them as a club rich in history but unable to cross the final hurdle. Their supporters endured heartbreak, false dawns and seasons that promised much but continued to deliver disappointment. Yet instead of abandoning the project, the club rebuilt steadily, trusted a l...