Thread by @Spotlight_Abby

Arewa will shock us all in 2023! My gatemen, wheelbarrow pusher & my Arewa foodstuff sellers all have smartphones. They are on tiktok. They see things!

Those who banked on "90% of Northerners are not online" will be shocked. I've discussed with many of them & seen them change --

--from a sly "I no know," "Atiku" or "my brother go tell me who I go vote for" to:

a shy, "Atiku or Pitobi, I no know"

and most recently, "Haba! Na Peter Obi nau. Labour Party."

Yes, we've come a long way on this journey. 88 days to the elections, multiply your efforts x 10.

I remember joining super volunteers for an evangelism for Peter Obi in July or Aug. With another lady named Stella, I spoke to a group of Northern men & asked them who they'd vote for. They laughed at us in derision, "una dey ask person wey e name na Abdullahi who e go vote for?"

We kept on speaking to them, reminding them why we need a people-driven committed leader in Peter Obi & how the hardships in Nigeria do not select based on tribe or religion. It turned out to be an intense conversation, at the end of which, the men filled our forms 4 follow-up.

After the initial barriers were broken, a few of them took us aside and shared some personal experiences which being Northerners did not exempt from. It was clear that all of us yearned for better leaders but our levels of optimism differed & sounding aloof was their way to cope.

That's where we all come in. Whatever platform you're more adroit at - physical mobilisations, financing support groups or LP, twitter, tiktok, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Instagram etc. - please, keep at it.
#ObiDatti023 will harvest votes in both the likely & unlikely places!