Taiwo Okorowu. Abuja
Desperate to counter Peter Obi’s rising popularity, the Bola Tinubu campaign has called for a solidarity rally in Abuja, where they expected to shut down the entire Abuja city with the massive funds said to have been invested in the rally. However, pictures coming from sources at the venue of the solidarity show that the rally has been a massive flop.
Inside sources said that the Tinubu Campaign had mandated all State and zonal coordinators, to hire some youths who would participate in the rally. These State coordinators who are mostly incumbent governors and gubernatorial candidates of the Party in the States were said to have doled out millions of Naira to the youth structure of the Party in the various States while the Campaign Organisation provided branded t-shirts and other campaign materials. The enormous resources said to have been mapped out for the rally is seen by many campaign planners as a waste, giving that the turnout was very poor.
According to a member of the Campaign Team who spoke on condition of anonymity; “Our aim was to counter Obi’s massive rallies across the country, but this turnout is disappointing, considering that participants came from the 36 States of the Federation. The monies invested into the rally is at most, a waste.”
An observer who is monitoring the rally said that it was easy to observe the “impassive and detached” involvement of the few people who turned up for the rally.
“The difference is clear. This is a nationwide rally, people came from the 36 States of the Federation to converge on the FCT for a rally, yet they look like a trickle when compared to the city-based rallies organised by Peter Obi’s supporters. You can also observe the lack of genuine interest by most of the participants, unlike at Peter Obi’s rallies where you feel the passion and genuine interest in what is happening. Most of those who are here leave you in no doubt that they are contractors who are at the event for the money they were paid or promised.”
The INEC ban on election campaigns has been officially lifted today for presidential and National Assembly contestants and more fireworks are expected from different political Parties. Curiously, while the two other major political Parties have rolled out their programs and are already moving around for campaign related events, the whereabouts of the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a mystery.