..ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS RAISED BY All ASIWAJU SUPPORT GROUP NATIONWIDE, Says Sunday Obanubi

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate,
Distinguished Senator Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu

We wish to draw attention of your Excellency to the fact that up to this moment, the National Leaders of the support groups working at the grassroots for your success at the polls have not been recognized, or, assigned any role to play by the Presidential Campaigns Council, PCC.

We think, that this being a great disconnect between the groups, apart from having the potential of adversely affecting the campaign activities, could also jeopardize the much desired success for the principals and the party at the polls.

It would appear that little, or, no attention has been paid to the fact that the support group leaders occupy critical positions, who’s roles as supervisory bodies could go a long way in determining the success, or, failure of our party at the general elections. Nothing should be done to undermine them in this campaign project.

The level of trust and understanding between the State Coordinators and National Officers of the various support groups should be leveraged upon by the PCC for maximum impact, as against the current situation where the groups do not have proper supervision from their leaders at the national level.

There’s need for the PCC to workout a synergy between the support groups and their national leaders for seamless mobilisation activities at the grassroots.

This can be achieved by involving the national leaders of the groups by quickly setting up a Support Group Leaders Directorate within the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.

We do note, that the PCC, has already created a support group directorate, but, the problem here, is that the national leaders of the various groups, have not been factored into this arrangement.

This is the great disconnect, which we feel can only be remedied by further creating a special directorate of the support groups leaders to feel the gap.

It is risky, to assume that the support groups at the states and grassroots, can be adequately deployed without direct supervision of the leaders of these groups.

This directorate will oversee the direct supervision of the support groups in the states, local governments down to the wards and polling units, where each group has set up structures for the campaigns and grassroots mobilization.

It is important to remind us all that these groups were formed and programmed under different templates and therefore can only function properly when the officials at the national levels are involved with their management.

The current situation where the groups are keyed into the campaigns at the states, without their national leaders, being part of the supervision process, tantamounts to trying to drive a car without its manual, the consequences of which can be better imagined.

The advantage of setting up the Support Groups Leaders Directorate, in addition to ensuring a seamless process of deployment of groups at the grassroots, will also ensure accountability with the application of resources and campaign materials.

It becomes very easy for the PCC, to hold the leaders of the groups accountable for the management and application of resources and campaign materials in the field.

These demands, are being made not out of the sheer scheming for personal gains, but, quite frankly out of our genuine commitments towards ensuring that the project 2023 succeeds.

At various times, we had tried to seek audience with PCC officials to lodge our complaints, it was always one excuse, or, the other.

Either, the relevant officials were too busy to attend to us, or, we were told to go back to our states to mobilize at the grassroots.

But to us, these are excuses that fail to take cognizance of the inherent complications in directing national leaders of the support groups to head back to their states to work.

The national officers, do not need to go back to their states to work, since, the responsibility for state coordination are already with the state officials.

The control system for the groups at the national level is necessary to ensure proper and effective coordination of the campaign activities. This fact, must be clearly understood and factored into the campaign plans and strategies.

We do not see how the PCC can effectively deploy the support groups without the active engagement of the founders, who exercise direct control and enjoy the confidence and trust of their officials at all levels.

Our members at the grassroots will be more convinced and ready to put in their best, when they see that their leaders are involved at the national level and can be reached at anytime for consultations on challenges that they may encounter in the fields.

It is our hope that these issues would be given the prompt and due attention for the collective good of all.

We are all great stake holders, as patriotic members of the All Progressives Congress, APC and are prepared to give our best towards ensuring that our party wins the 2023 general elections landslide.

It is critical to place issues in right perspective to achieve the desired aims and objectives of every project, most especially, the campaigns to usher in the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council has done its best in constituting the best campaign team in Nigeria, no doubt, every name can not feature on the very important list.

To the best way possible, the PCC has recognised and promised full working relationship with the *Network of National Coordinators of Support Groups for Asiwaju*. This has been confirmed by various engagements with different leaders of support groups committee of the Presidential Campaign Council.

The network comprises of National Coordinators, Director Generals and Founders of Support Groups across Nigeria and growing by the day. The Network comprises of leaders cut across the six geopolitical zones, based on their state of residence.

The Network uses this medium to charge all National Coordinators of Support Groups to be more selfless and cooperative like our Principal mandate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exemplified over the years.

The roles, essence and importance of National Coordinators have been amplified and cannot be undermined ahead of the general elections. The National Coordinators have National duties and responsibilities, to galvanise their leaders across the various states and regions they are present to guarantee maximum and effective delivery of the mandates from the 176,846 Polling units in Nigeria.

The Network of National Coordinators of Support Groups for Asiwaju has also discussed and is promoting unity and harmony amongst structures of support groups. Conflicts are bound to happen amongst people, but the PCC has even organised training on handling such amongst groups, ensuring easy and harmonious working relationship amongst the structures.

We charge all National Coordinators and Group leaders to promote peace, trust and understanding between themselves and the various state Coordinators.

Calls for creating Support Group Leaders Directorate is a welcome idea, so long it will further strengthen the campaign goals and further help us widen the electoral victory in our favour.

The roles and importance of National Coordinators on this election has become very cogent and must be seriously prioritised and the Network of National Coordinators for Asiwaju is working round the clock to fill the gap.

Elections are done bottom up, hence everyone is very important on the project right from the Polling units to Wards to local government level, states, region and the national.

The Support groups are no doubt very critical and must be well managed by all persons and leaders with the responsibilities and opportunities at hand.

The Network of National Coordinators for Asiwaju is available to support and encourage all National Coordinators and others as necessary to ensure the victory of our Principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima and other candidates of the party.

Feel free to reach out and let’s make the success a resounding victory for us all.