By Dr Sam Amadi
Whoever crafted the ‘Village Boys Movement’ reaction to the ‘City Boys Movement’ on social media is a political strategist. The ‘Village Boys Movement’ narrative have drowned the ‘City Boys’ impact. Yes, the village boys may not have buses donated yet, but in public sphere (as Jurgen Habermas would use it), the village boys have run away with victory.
Some would scorn at the movement arguing that it is only a social media phenomenon. That reminds me what they said about Peter Obi phenomenon in 2023 elections. I was head of strategy for the Atiku group, only 9 of us with Atiku. When I argued that the 3 people with Obi in the room tweeting is a problem to confront, those who claim to be experienced politicians told me to be quiet. The National Chairman told me if Peter Obi ever gets one million votes, he will go on exile. Sule Lamido vowed that Peter Obi would never get more than one million votes.
I knew what I saw as a strategist. And I left them. The rest is history. Peter Obi almost defeated Tinubu but for the help of INEC. Only 3 people in a room, as Adams Oshiomole put it, caused the greatest political upset in Nigerian history.
Those who understand political strategy know that in a social media age, virality is success.
The ‘Village Boys Movement’ is stronger than the ‘City Boys Movement’ because it does not need connection to government, fake billions and ‘money-na-water’ to influence voters. They keep tweeting and posting counter-cultural materials that present ‘City Boys’ as a bunch of fraternity boys feeding on corrupt proceeds of criminal enterprise. That is all that is needed to turn Nigerians against their movement. It is already succeeding. Except for those connected to political power and need the establishment to succeed, the rest of angry Nigerians are now ‘Village Boys’.
If you doubt about how viral narratives define political behavior and reality, may be you need to hear a real economist, a Nobel Laureate, Robert Shiller, tell you. Read “Narrative Economics: How Stories Go Viral and Drive Major Economic Events (Princeton University Press, 2019).
