Raise Men, Not Money, BAT Ideological Group Convenor Charges Political Appointees

The Convenor of the BAT Ideological Group, Comrade Bamdele Atoyebi, has urged political appointees in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to prioritize empowering people over amassing wealth.

Atoyebi made the call on Thursday in Abuja during an interactive programme hosted by the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), where the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, was the guest.

Describing the session as “interesting and educating,” Atoyebi noted that such engagements help grassroots mobilizers understand government policies, projects and programmes. According to him, when support groups are well informed, they can effectively communicate the achievements of the administration to citizens at the community level.

“If all ministers can come here once in a while to tell us what they have done, it will help every member, because we are grassroots people.

Without proper information, we won’t be able to sell anything to them. With this kind of information, we’ll be able to sell Asiwaju easily,” he said.

He cited his recent interaction with the Director-General of an organisation, stressing that proper publicity of government programmes would make governance achievements more visible.

“I told him, this is your programme. If I handle your PR, Asiwaju does not need to campaign anymore. It’s an easy win. You are doing so much, but little is being said about the programme,” Atoyebi explained.

Atoyebi further encouraged members of support groups not to lose hope despite feeling neglected after their efforts during the 2023 elections. He assured them that President Tinubu values loyalty and inclusivity.

“Asiwaju is not a user of people. It will surely get to them. Everybody cannot get appointed, but everybody can be carried along. The only problem is that some appointees only remember their families instead of carrying people along,” he stated.

The convener stressed that Tinubu’s political philosophy is built on raising men, not money, insisting that those empowered will eventually create wealth and contribute to national growth.

“What Asiwaju stands for, and why we are the BAT Ideological Group, is because he believes in raising men. The men that you raise will now turn to billions of naira tomorrow. But some appointees prefer to raise money instead of men. That is why many people are not being carried along,” he said.

He therefore advised political office holders to identify with support groups and empower members, who in turn would extend the benefits to their communities.