As the 2023 electioneering process reaches its peak amid concerns about violent campaign, the Grassroot Independent Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has trained its state coordinators on anger management and effective communication.

Speaking at the retreat holding at the international conference centre, Abuja, the director, Media and Publicity of the council, Hilliard Eta, said this was the first time that the grassroots of Nigeria were targeted for the purposes of bringing the message of campaign for its presidential candidate to the people in a way it would resonate with them.

According to him, the essence of the retreat was to equip the foot soldiers of the party on how to market the candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and convince more Nigerians.

Eta said, “Before an army sets out for its responsibility, it must be tutored in a manner to engage the objective. This is to equip the combatants, what I call the battalions. You know when you get the BAT, you get the BATtalions – to equip the battalions to go to the hinterland, the grassroots of Nigeria to do the work for which they have been given to do.”

The former acting national chairman of APC urged the electorate not to listen to the sound bite that is couched in mudslinging and character assassination.

He said, “In the name of the God you (electorate) worship, take away all the distractions and listen to the message and when anybody comes to tell you that he is going to do something miraculous and fantastic today, ask him what he did yesterday because talk is cheap.”