Hon. Dayo Israel, the National Youth Wing Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that the Jagaban Army, the name he gave the organisation, is not a militia but a grassroots mobilisation push for the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to NewsXtra, the launching of the ‘Jagaban Army’ and the military-style uniforms worn by members of the council and the APC Youth Leader themselves have sparked controversy.
The Youth Leader stated that the common perception of political canvassers as “foot soldiers” inspired the Jagaban’s Army.
“Nevertheless, it is a peaceful and democratic organisation of young canvassers whose task is to facilitate support and ensure the poll success of the APC in the General Elections, beginning with the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.
“That the branding of a vote mobilisation unit as an ‘army’ is neither an anomaly in democratic politics nor a deviation from democratic norms. Naysayers spreading malicious interpretations — including sensational claims of a ‘violent militia’ — referred to President Barack Obama’s 2008 branding of his local organisers and campaigners as his ‘peacetime army’. Just as it would be ridiculous to accuse America’s 44th President of attempting to topple the country’s democracy at the time, similar insinuations about the Jagaban’s Army are to be viewed in the same light.
“Just like Obama’s Army, the Jagaban’s Army is a rebirth of participatory democracy, infused by the energy of millions of Nigerian youths at home and in the diaspora.
“The ceremonial outfit worn by the ‘Army leadership at its inauguration bears no semblance to that of the armed forces, nor does it purport to be representative of it. It’s no different to those adorned by civil and peaceful church societies, particularly those tasked with evangelisation.
“That it is an ‘army’ to the extent that it is a body of persons organised to advance a cause, in this case, the peaceful and democratic cause of preaching the achievements and goodwill of the APC and her candidates to bring about electoral victory.
“That the operations of the Jagaban’s Army are fully democratic and centred around well-established democratic persuasion methods in every electoral campaign season. This fact is evidenced by the design and deployment of the Canvassers’ Record Sheet, a key tool of the ‘foot soldiers’ meant to aid data collection and test message effectiveness.
“That the ‘army’ remains focused on its goal and welcomes the enthusiasm and dedication of members and other affiliates of the party who are already hard at work, preaching the Renewed Hope message of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and winning new converts for the party through peaceful and strategic engagements.”
