If you understand how elections are contested and conducted in Nigeria, you will wonder if Sir Tony Ejiogu would pull through with his plans in the Imo election.
He is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming election in Imo State.
Basically, during election campaigns in Nigeria, it is common to see a large crowd of supporters show up at every rally. Sometimes, people claim those happy and praise-singing supporters are rented to make opposition feel the heat.
But Sir Ejiogu wants to walk the road most politicians do not want to walk.
He says he wants to run a campaign that will feature genuine supporters and true believers in his vision and not a crowd of rented praise singers.
A Vision With Like Minds
According to one of the close aides of the Owerri-born politician, who pleaded anonymity, Ejiogu made this declaration during a meeting in the buildup to his campaign flag-off.
Today, Thursday, August 31 is the day set for that campaign commencement. It will hold at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral in Egbu, Owerri North LGA of Imo state.
Furthermore, the source said Tony Ejiogu insisted that his campaign flag-off was not a test of his popularity. Also, he says it is not a competition with the career politicians that he is contesting against.
Rather, he describes it as an event where he intends to share a vision with like minds. This is regardless of their social and economic status.
He further said that his emergence as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was without bribing or paying anyone.
According to him, this is an indication that when the people are presented with a true heart with honest intentions, they will offer their support freely.
Also, he argued that several politicians had lost elections in the past, despite the huge crowds at their campaign rallies.
These same politicians often claim that the masses are with them, he narrated.
Not A Proof Of Support
For him, the logic is that campaign crowds are never proof of the people’s support and most times they do not translate into votes.
Since his emergence as APGA’s flag bearer, Tony Ejiogu’s popularity has been growing fast among young people in Imo state.
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People say it is due to the fact that he represents a departure from the political class that has ruled the state for many years.
“Our people deserve better than being used and dumped.
“I place a higher value on my people than trying to buy them to support me to become governor.
“What will be the future of our vision for a new Imo state if all I do is to repeat those same practices that got us where we are now?” he reportedly asked his associates.
Our source says he has become more convinced that Tony Ejiogu’s candidacy and modesty will challenge the culture of monetised politics in Nigeria, as it represents a model for how visionary leaders lead.
