ACCORDING to the letters of its books, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) was formed to promote good governance, the spirit of self reliance and entrepreneurship, empowerment, job creation among other objectives. TAN also said it would promote unity, peace and progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

   The organisation said its mission is to assist and be part of the transformation of the second 100 years of the existence of Nigeria into a nation that will visibly transcend the threshold of under-development, overcome the challenges of diversity and enthrone a collective vision of a nation where good governance, natural justice, equity and good conscience become the hallmarks of quality leadership in conformity with the status and standards of other developed nations of the world.

    Although it is written clearly that TAN would “spread the gospel of President Goodluck’s Jonathan’s transformation agenda, how the organisation is implementing this plank of its objectives is a revolution of some sort. Nothing close to what TAN is doing to promote and support Jonathan’s agenda has ever happened in the history of Nigeria. What is most pleasantly astonishing is that TAN is executing this massive agenda as a non- governmental organisation and with funding from private purses.

    Months ago, TAN had commenced the mobilisation of Nigerians to urge the president to seek re-election not just by mere propaganda as was the case with other groups that laboured but failed in the past to do what TAN is currently doing. 

   The unique selling point of TAN project is its deployment of resources to massively showcase in practical terms, the achievements of President Jonathan to Nigerians.  

    It is therefore no surprise that TAN has assumed ubiquitous presence in the nation’s political arena. Everywhere you go in Nigeria today, what you hear is TAN. The massive mobilisation of support for President Jonathan by TAN through its unprecedented public enlightenment of the president’s achievements has posed a challenge to future promoters of government both in private and official capacities.

     Unlike in the past when groups were openly abused and castigated for calling on incumbent public office holders to seek re-election, TAN has earned a giant reputation for itself because of two strategic factors, one being that TAN funds its activities; and second, it intellectually showcased Jonathan’s achievements without injecting falsehood and make-ups. 

    Using multi- media approach of radio, television, newspapers and the social media, TAN brought images of Jonathan’s projects to the living rooms of the citizens while large bill boards with classical pictorial display are deployed in every part of Nigeria. Within months of its emergence, TAN became a household name with millions of Nigerians registering online as members while its social media followership is unprecedented.

      The rallies organised by TAN in the six geo-political zones and Abuja to ask Jonathan to declare interest for the 2015 presidential election were as rich in content as they were as colourful as Brazilian carnivals. TAN was able to mobilise millions of Nigerians to append their signatures on documents asking Jonathan to throw his cap into the ring. 

    Even when the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation was inaugurated, TAN has remained resilient, working side by side with the campaign team of the President by injecting colour and entertainment to the campaigns.

• Melah is an Abuja based journalist and public analyst