Yesterday’s APC gathering in Kaduna offered more than the usual parade of flags, uniforms and staged enthusiasm. It exposed a gap between political theatre and political reality.

Videos from the event showed some young people in APC-branded clothing chanting “Sai Atiku” and “Sau ɗaya ne” “Falle daya ne”, slogans that sit awkwardly beside a gathering meant to promote President Tinubu’s political ambitions.

There were videos of people warned one another not to mention Tinubu’s name, apparently to avoid provoking the youths.
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What does this tell you?

People can be mobilised, transported, paid or persuaded to attend an event. But once the buses leave, the music stops and the incentives disappear, voters are left with their own preferences.

That is where the political deceits end.

A powerful party can summon governors, fill venues and manufacture impressive images. It cannot manufacture conviction. A crowd may be assembled; but electorate cannot be commanded.

The machinery of mobilisation can create a spectacle, but only public sentiment can produce a result at the ballot box.

The same desperation was visible during the last Osun Governorship election, an episode that resulted in the unfortunate deaths of many people. Yet, despite the weight of governors and the backing of powerful political forces across the country, the people mercilessly disgraced those who assumed that political machinery could override their will.

Political power is temporary. Today’s display of dominance can become tomorrow’s evidence of miscalculation. Leaders who study only the size of the crowd may miss the direction of the public mood.

You can arrange the welcome. You can control the stage. But you cannot write the verdict.

What, then, was Kaduna really saying?

An over resounding ” Ba ma yi”.

Solomon Dalung Esq.