Nigerians can be disingenuously creative. For as I was trying to wrap my mind around the ‘City Boy’ concept recently, then came the ‘Village Boys’ phenomenon.
If you have not been following the latest melodrama on the Nigerian political landscape, let me bring you up to speed. For free.
Two ideologically opposed groups have recently emerged on the landscape of Nigeria’s eastern seaboard. And they are heating up the country’s polity.
The ‘City Boy’ is the brainchild of a group of young Igbo ‘millionaires’ who support President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, a euphemism for a plan to secure for him a second consecutive term.
Whereas, the ‘Village Boys’ is an intrepid group of ordinary men whose clearcut agenda is to counteract the message of the ‘City Boy’ movement.
With the ‘City Boy’, their goal has been unambiguous: Win the votes of the Igbo states - Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo - for the re-election of Tinubu.
Not to be outdone, the ‘Village Boys’ who are preponderantly made up of members of the ‘Obidient’ movement, a vociferous support group backing the presidential ambition of Peter Obi instantaneously threw their hat into the ring.
I believe what first provoked the ire of the ‘Village Boys’ was the ostentatious and public roll out of a fleet of brand-new vehicles by members of the ‘City Boy’ group.
In a rather deft political move, the ‘Village Boys’ wasted no time in showing up. And they have been successful in instantly changing the coloration of the conversation.
And for a moment, the focus was no longer on the ‘City Boy’. For the shine has been taken off.
The ‘Village Boys’ message to the public was simple: We look more like you - Hungry. Unemployed. Forgotten. Abused. Oppressed. the Hoi polloi.
Without really saying so, they have successfully portrayed their rivals as the oppressors, the money bags, the fat cats, the privileged, the rich and the wealthy.
All this is for the battle for the soul of the people of the East. Politically speaking.
All available information reveal that Tinubu is hellbent on avenging his defeat in the hands of Peter Obi in his Lagos state domain in the 2023 elections. You will recall that Obi recorded a huge win against Tinubu in that election.
Now, Tinubu is spoiling for a revenge - beat Peter Obi in his native Igbo land. Or nothing. To him, it is personal.
It is no surprise therefore that the arrowhead in this foray into the Igbo states for Igbo votes is no other than the president’s trusted son, Seyi Tinubu.
Obviously with a bag full of money, he has been charged with the task of deploying an emergent cadre of Igbo businessmen as assets across the length and breadth of the East.
And for maximum efficiency, governors of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region know better than not to provide the requisite support needed for the big boys from the East of the ‘City Boy’ movement to accomplish the bidding of the President: ‘Take the East for Tinubu’. By hook. Or by crook.
I can now authoritatively report that the stage is set.
And the eggs are cooling. The butter’s getting hard. The jello’s jiggling, according to the legendary American sports broadcaster, Chick Hearn.
Now let the battle begin!