Nigeria, Dec. 25 -- In the animal kingdom, the opossum survives through a combination of tact, patience, and strategy. When threatened by a pack of predators, the opossum collapses into stillness, mouth open, tongue out - pretending to be dead and even emitting an unbearably foul smell.

When the predator loses interest and lets its guard down, then, at the perfect moment, the opossum springs back to life and makes a frantic escape.

For centuries, the opossum's capacity for tact and surprise in the face of existential threats has been studied and adopted by war strategists, political actors, behavioural psychologists, and even start-up entrepreneurs seeking to disrupt dominant markets through innovation.

In Rivers State, Governor Simina...