Politics
Amaechi recalls moment of unpredictable political loyalty during APC mobilization
DDM News

Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, recently shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the early days of the All Progressives Congress (APC), offering insight into the unpredictable and often chaotic nature of political mobilization in Nigeria.
In an interview on Symfoni TV, Amaechi recalled a particular event that demonstrated the complexities of political organizing and the sometimes surprising loyalty of the people involved.
Diaspora digital media (DDM) revaild that Amaechi began by reflecting on the challenges the APC faced during its formative days, particularly the fear that the party might be sidelined.
To counter this uncertainty, Amaechi took a proactive approach, orchestrating a demonstration to draw attention to the new political party.
He recalled, “I was scared that they might push us out, so I got the party to agree that we would carry out a demonstration.”
This move was designed to assert the party’s presence and ensure it wasn’t overlooked during the early stages of its establishment.
To ensure the demonstration was effective, Amaechi and his team mobilized support by releasing funds to attract participants.
“We released some money to mobilize people, including women, and they came,” he explained.
The goal was to make the demonstration large and impactful, and with the financial backing, the event was set to be a significant political moment.
The venue for the demonstration was the Eagle Square in Abuja, a location synonymous with political events in Nigeria, adding further gravity to the planned protest.
Amaechi, mindful of the need to oversee the event firsthand, decided to arrive early at the venue.
“I walked in. But what about me? I must go early to know what is going on before people arrive,” he shared.
His decision to be present early was driven by the need to ensure that everything went according to plan.
However, upon arriving at the square, he was faced with an unexpected and somewhat humorous twist.
“When I got there, I saw the women gathered. Guess what? They were wearing ‘Jonathan for President’ T-shirts!” Amaechi recalled, clearly amused by the irony of the situation.
The women, who had been mobilized to support the APC, were instead displaying their allegiance to the then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
This moment was particularly ironic given the context: a demonstration meant to support the APC, which was in opposition to Jonathan’s government, but the participants were showing loyalty to the sitting president.
Amaechi’s story highlights the unpredictability of grassroots political mobilization, where despite careful planning and financial investment, political allegiances can shift unexpectedly.
This incident serves as a vivid example of the challenges political organizers like Amaechi face in managing public support.
Despite their best efforts to mobilize people for a particular cause or party, they cannot always control the direction in which that loyalty will turn.
In this case, Amaechi had hoped to show strength for the newly-formed APC, but instead, he was confronted with a crowd showing support for President Jonathan.
Amaechi’s reflection on this experience is both humorous and revealing, shedding light on the unpredictable nature of Nigerian politics.
It also underscores the complex and sometimes fluid loyalty of political supporters, who may not always align with the interests of the party or the organizers, even when they are financially incentivized to do so.
This moment from Amaechi’s recollection offers a unique perspective on the practicalities and challenges of political mobilization, particularly in a country where political loyalty can shift rapidly.
It also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable elements that can emerge in the political process, even when significant effort and resources are invested into organizing an event.
Ultimately, Amaechi’s story highlights the complexities of building political support in Nigeria, where grassroots mobilization is never as straightforward as it might seem.
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