2023: Massive Crowds on Country Grounds: What Nigerians Are Saying

Nigerians have expressed their differing views on the huge crowds seen on campaign grounds and political rallies from different political parties across the country.

While some people believe that mobs are praised by politicians and their masters to march as members of their political parties and supporters of their candidates, others believe that real mobs exist.

Even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election campaign open, some Nigerians had started marching in cities to register their support for their candidates.

Such rallies, labeled “One Million Man March” or Two Million Man March, had been held in cities like Jos, Kaduna, FCT, among others, for Peter Obi of the Labor Party.< /p>

And now it seems to have become a test of popularity among politicians ahead of the general election as their managers brag and share videos of gigantic crowds at their rallies.

However, many Nigerians do not believe in crowd gathering. And there is the popular belief that the battlefield itself would be the best test of strength simply because, according to them, a crowd could be bought off.

There is also the belief that there are three types of crowds at these rallies and campaign grounds, namely rented crowds, those who come out hoping politicians would throw money and food away, and the real crowd made up of Nigerians seeking change.

Even among politicians, they think that Nigerians are not coming in droves to support anyone just for fun. They believe that such crowds are praised, which raises the question of whether Nigerians are genuinely supporting a candidate.

Ahead of the Labor Party rally in Abuja, a frontline artist and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, who was one of the leaders of the "Million Man March “, said the current administration had failed Nigerians and given no hope for the common man, hence the search for change.

Charly boy strongly believes that Peter Obi would bring about the socio-economic changes the country needs to move from where it is now.

And since then, videos of campaign locations heavily used by major political parties such as the LP, All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have been flooding the internet.

And some Nigerians who spoke to DAILY POST on the streets of Abuja believe that most of these people are paid very small amounts of money to fill up the countryside.

DAILY POST recalls, among other things, that Dino Melaye, the spokesperson, Peoples Democratic People, PDP, Presidential Campaign Management Committee, had denied the march of a million men for Peter Obi in Abuja.

According to him, the so-called Obi supporters were just starving Nigerians paid N1000-N2000 and rounded up from all parts of Abuja and Nigerians, in general, to say they were Obiients.< /p>

“Hunger in the country has made mass hiring very easy,” said Dr. Kashifu Ahmad, an Abuja-based political observer.

"A time like this [campaign season] is one of the reasons politicians don't want to provide jobs and a good life for citizens.

"People are weak and hungry and can easily be lured into the streets. I strongly believe that while some of these people are genuine supporters of candidates and political parties, most of them are praised.< /p>

"Every politician likes to see their campaign ground full of people and would do anything to make that happen. We now have what are called 'crowd agents'. These people go from place to place. another to hire a mob of politicians. Just tell them how many people you want and voila. I firmly believe that the election itself would serve as a real test of popularity. Forget the mob. But I repeat , this does not totally exclude genuine support."

Also speaking to DAILY POST on the matter, Emeka Amadi, a shoe seller at Utako Market, said, “I was part of the Obi march in Abuja here. gave N1. I live in Dutse but I had to walk all the way to join the march because I want Obi to be president. Maybe other political parties give money to people to let them come out and support them. But I don't think Obidient mobs are fake."

Abubakar Isa, a trader in Wuse market, noted that "People gather for different reasons. Some just want to see the presidential candidate and be among the crowd and after nothing more. Some are out in search of food and money, while others are party members. There is suffering. Hunger kills people, that's why you see crowds everywhere. I don't belong to any gone but I have my voter card."

Another trader, Sister Margret Ugwu, described herself as "Obidient" saying, "Even my pastor is Obidient. We need change. The past eight years is something that the mouth cannot tell. We ask God to give us a good leader who...