By Boluwatife Adedokun
Ahead of the 2023 election, the All Progressives’ Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu has harmonised over 3, 000 campaign groups.
This was made known by the media team of Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 presidential campaign groups, speaking to the Punch.
The Director of Media and communications Support Organisation, Bayo Onanuga had earlier disclosed that his priority will be based on issue-based campaigns without giving room for antics, mudslinging as well as image-smearing sentiments laced at him or his running mate.
The Director in his words also noted that preparation had commenced as regards organizing all Tinubu’s presidency support groups.
Also, another member of the media and communication directorate of Bola Tinubu-Kashim, Biodun Ajiboye reverberated the position.
While giving explanation, Ajiboye disclosed to The Punch that all the over three thousand support groups were registered under the Tinubu Support Organization.
His words “There are several wings of the campaign and each one has its role and niche, which the campaign is expected to take care of,”
As regards how the TSO will carry out such huge groups without friction, the Public Relation Expert disclosed that the group was organised in a way to avoid any conflict that may arise.
“In so far as they are registered with relevant certificates, there can’t be any conflict. Besides, it should be noted that support groups following Asiwaju are in two to three major camps. As I speak to you, there is a group called ‘Council for New Nigeria Initiative’ under Senator Abu Ibrahim that has 650 registered groups.
“There is another camp called the TLG under Hon. James Faleke has over 1,000 member groups.” he said.
Speaking about the former Minister of Communication support groups, Adebayo Shittu, the public relation expert explained that Tinubu had equipped Senator Abu Ibrahim will be in charge of the support groups under a platform tagged “Grassroots mobilisation.”
Meanwhile, Ajiboye explained that their job is to join the support groups together before the campaign begins on September 28.
He noted “You need to wait for another couple of weeks to see how it spans out. Right now, it is still in the formative stage. Once it is concluded, everything will fall in place,”
Speaking to the Punch, Ajiboye explained that the APC Presidential Campaign Council Composition was complete.
He said, “We are only waiting for the announcement. I am sure it will be announced in a couple of days or a week maximum.”
In his own part, the Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance, Adebayo Shittu opposed the motion.
However, the former Minister of Communication, who has 375 groups, stated that there’s no need for the organisation of various platforms promoting the APC presidential candidate.
“Whatever statement these groups deploy, if that’s the fear, will always be in their names. It has nothing to do with the candidate because they are not speaking for Asiwaju. That’s why when you hear me talk, I only speak for myself and not for the presidential candidate. But I campaign for him. I don’t see any conflict here.”
Shittu in his response to if there’s funds sourced by the 3000 groups for the campaign relevance, explained that their financial capacity will be determined by certain factors.
He said, “It depends on the individual. For someone like me who manages a platform of over 375 groups, I spent more than N2m from my own purse.
“Some of it goes into printing T-shirts, stickers, posters, jingles, adverts and a lot of others. Not one kobo of it comes from Asiwaju. But it doesn’t really matter because we are convinced of his capacity to run a good government that will improve the lot of Nigerians. That is what fuels our commitment. It is not about having funds to run the association. It is not as if we are not paying staff.
“As I mentioned earlier, there is no conflict even if there are one million support groups. Remember too that some of these groups are not necessarily card-carrying members of the APC.”
