Congratulations! You’ve just “won” the election. As the country’s new leader, you may have come from the opposition party having booted out the last. Or you may have been a minister or vice president in the previous administration.

In any case, forget about grand reforms and progressive changes. Don't say it out loud, but you’re about to embark on a four-year journey of chopping, dodging, deflecting, and delaying. To make it easier, here’s a simple and reliable four-year template to survive—even thrive—as you lead the country to yet another election. The template is simple because it is. And it works, based on the experience of many citizens, election after election.

First Year: Settling In—And Setting Scores

Your first year in office is the time to pretend that everything that went wrong in the previous administration had absolutely nothing to do with you or your party.

Even if people don’t buy it, the first hundred days in office are your honeymoon, and the public still loves your promises of sweeping reforms. No one will scrutinise your every move yet. Use this time to start stacking your cabinet with people you owe.

Every campaign has its price. Those flashy billboards and late-night strategy dinners didn’t pay for themselves. So, as the nation waits in suspense, take this precious time to quietly funnel a little “gratitude” to your campaign backers.

Know, however, that after some time, you need to explain why you haven’t started any real reforms yet. Don’t worry. Blame “internal adjustments”. Tell everyone you’re carefully evaluating the mess the previous government left behind.” If you come from that government, don’t mention you were part of it.

Make some visible, superficial changes. Issue memos about "transparency" and "accountability" and post them where everyone can see them. Remember, perception is everything. Pretend you’re nothing like your predecessor.

If you’ve done it right, by the end of your first year, you’ll have secured your position, paid off your campaign friends, and convinced half the country that you’re still the change they’ve been waiting for.

Second Year: Blame, Reframe, and Claim the Funds

You’re now settled in. The public has had time to digest your promises, and your cabinet is in place. It’s time to play the second-year card: blame everything on the previous government. Go public with news about hidden debts. Make it sound like you’ve just discovered these problems.

The roads are still riddled with potholes? Blame inherited infrastructure crisis. Education standards dropping? Decades of neglect. Is the economy in freefall? Blame previous mismanagement.

When citizens start pointing fingers, remind them that your grand vision takes time. By now, it’s perfectly acceptable to show up on TV looking exhausted, as if you’re carrying the nation on your shoulders. It’s also your time to chop. But chop wisely.

At the same time, invest in projects that can serve as double agents. These initiatives look good on paper and make you appear productive while doubling as ways to channel funds to allies. Infrastructure is ideal: a road project here, a new bridge there. Such “long-term” projects are best because they require substantial budgets—and even more substantial delays.

People will start reminding you of your campaign promises around this time. Don't panic. This is where you subtly let them know that reality differs from those campaign promises. But don't say it outright; that's too blunt. Instead, mention that "external pressures" or "global challenges" are affecting your ability to make rapid progress.

The second year is about solidifying your position, securing resources for your circle, and subtly managing the public’s expectations. If you do it well, no one will notice that you’re not exactly moving mountains. And by the end of this year, you’ll have a reputation for resilience and resourcefulness—and a chunk of the budget to keep things comfortable for the next few years.

Third Year: Progress and Projects—But No Promises

Now we’re in the third year—the “action year.” It’s the perfect time to fake a real vision. You’re technically halfway through your term. People are realising you haven’t done much beyond holding press conferences. It’s time to roll out some impressive-sounding initiatives that make you look productive without committing to anything concrete.

Launch a series of "transformational" projects. Pick a sector that's perpetually underfunded or famously difficult to measure, like healthcare, education, or infrastructure. Then, unveil plans to "revolutionise” it. The trick is to keep everything broad and ambiguous. For example, announce a “10-year education overhaul” or a “nationwide healthcare expansion.” Of course, these projects will never reach fruition. But they make for stunning headlines.

It’s also time to break ground for new roads, hospitals, or schools. But remember, you don't want actual progress to be made here. Here, you want ribbons to cut, photos to take, and press releases to send out. Emphasise that these are "just the beginning" of much bigger projects. The people love spectacle, and nothing says “change” like a shiny shovel in the dirt.

Don’t make plans, but reference “plans” constantly. The beauty of the third year is pretending to have a comprehensive plan without creating one. Announce that you’re working on a “national action framework,” but don’t publish it. If people ask why they can’t see it, tell them it’s under careful scrutiny because you “don’t want to make the same mistakes as the past government.”

Avoid clear timelines or measurable objectives. These are traps that could later be used against you. Aim for nebulous goals like “enhancing public well-being” or “promoting inclusive growth.” If people press for specifics, mention that you’re “consulting with stakeholders.” This gives the impression of serious deliberation while leaving everything open-ended.

In this year, you want tolook very busy. Schedule frequent meetings, preferably with foreign diplomats or international organisations. Foreign visitors make excellent props because they can't hold you accountable for local issues. Plus, it looks good to be seen shaking hands with ambassadors or visiting dignitaries.

But keep sight of your goal. You are laying the groundwork for re-election. A few strategically timed leaks to the press about your “dedication to unfinished projects” can help. Begin seeding the narrative that “real change takes time” and that you’re only just beginning to see the fruits of your labour. This will be crucial in your fourth year when you embark on another campaign for votes to continue (not) governing.

Fourth Year: Campaign Mode Activated—Forget Governance!

This is the grand finale of your term. This year is not about governing—those days are long behind you. It’s time to pivot, full-throttle, into campaign mode. Your job now is to convince the people that you’ve been doing such an incredible job that it would be a crime to replace you.

Remember all those half-complete projects from the third year? Now's the time to parade them around to prove your dedication to the nation. Schedule "progress review" visits to these projects. Get some media coverage showing you in a hard hat or laying bricks.

Slip in phrases like “Just a little more time, and this will transform the country.” Make it sound like these half-finished buildings are monuments to your hard work instead of monuments to your government’s inaction.

You must present yourself as a “leader in progress”. Write speeches that focus on continuity, stability, and the dangers of switching leadership mid-stride. The goal here is to make people fear change. Make it sound like electing someone else would undo all your “hard work”.

Make the media your best friend. If you've been smart, you've kept a few key journalists on your side over the past years. Now's the time to cash in those favours. Arrange for a few glowing editorials and a TV interview where you're portrayed as a tireless, selfless leader.

In these interviews, let the whole world know you are a “man of the people” who has sacrificed personal comfort to lead. It doesn’t matter that you’ve actually been living quite comfortably. What matters is the image.

Attack the opposition. But don’t overdo it. You don’t need a full smear campaign. Just enough to make the public uneasy. Drop subtle suggestions that your opponents are inexperienced. Only you can “guide the nation through troubled waters”.

Meanwhile, try to appear calm, mature, and above petty politics. Let your party members do the dirty work. This way, you come across as dignified.

A few months to election day is the home stretch, so don't hold back. Promise the moon and stars, knowing you'll never have to deliver them. Make sure these promises are dramatic enough to stick in people’s minds. Of course, your critics will call them unrealistic, but your supporters will latch on to the hope. In the end, that’s what you need.

The fourth year is about putting on a masterclass in political theatre. By election day, you want people to feel that choosing you is a duty to preserve “the future.” And it is a sin not to. And if you win, start the whole cycle over again. If you lose, watch from afar as the new leader inevitably follows the same script. After all, this is the template that never fails.

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Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman is the founder of the Centre for Alternative Politics & Security West Africa (www.caps-wa.org). He is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia. Muhammad’s most recent publication is “Journeying to jihadiphate: A vehicle framework of jihadist conflicts in West Africa," published in the journal African Security Review. Email: alternatives@caps-wa.org