The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande, over his claim that the 2020 #EndSARS protests were orchestrated by Obi’s supporters, popularly known as the Obidients, to derail President Bola Tinubu’s political ambition. Obi and the Obidient Movement have dismissed Akande’s assertion as an attempt to distort historical facts and undermine the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths during the nationwide demonstrations.
Obi’s media team described Akande’s statement as misleading and insensitive to the victims of the #EndSARS protests, particularly those who lost their lives. The protests, which began on October 7, 2020, initially focused on the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) but soon expanded into a broader demand for good governance and accountability. The demonstrations culminated in violent confrontations between protesters and security forces, with the most infamous incident occurring at the Lekki Tollgate, where soldiers allegedly fired on peaceful demonstrators.
Akande’s Controversial Claim Sparks Outrage
In a recent podcast hosted by broadcaster Edmund Obilo, Akande alleged that the #EndSARS movement was masterminded by Obidients and financially supported by foreign interests to block Tinubu’s rise to the presidency. According to him, the protests were a well-funded operation designed to create political instability.
“The Obidients were behind the #EndSARS. It was manufactured in America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu). I said the Obidients, I didn’t say Obi. They came from America to do the #EndSARS and later became a movement to form a party. They couldn’t form a party. It was well planned and organized with a lot of money from America,” Akande stated.
These claims have ignited a wave of backlash, with critics accusing Akande of attempting to shift focus from the legitimate grievances that fueled the protests. Many Nigerians, including members of the Obidient Movement, have rejected the narrative, arguing that #EndSARS was a spontaneous, youth-led uprising against police brutality and government impunity.
Obi’s Camp Denounces Misinformation
Reacting to Akande’s remarks, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, dismissed the allegations as divisive and unfounded. He emphasized that the Obidient Movement is a grassroots-driven initiative dedicated to good governance and national development, separate from the #EndSARS protests.
“The allegations are not only misleading but also divisive. It is unfortunate that Akande would suggest that the Obidient Movement was behind the #EndSARS protests and even more astonishing that he would imply it was orchestrated to prevent a particular individual from becoming President,” Ibrahim said.
He further clarified that the #EndSARS protests were fueled by widespread discontent over police brutality, corruption, and economic hardship, not political ambitions. Ibrahim urged Akande to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could further polarize the country.
Obidient Movement Demands Respect for #EndSARS Victims
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also condemned Akande’s assertion, describing it as an insult to the memory of the young Nigerians who lost their lives fighting against police brutality. He criticized Akande for attempting to rewrite history and shift blame away from the failures of governance.
“#EndSARS was a decentralized, youth-led movement demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and systemic oppression in Nigeria. It was not about politics, nor was it about any single individual’s presidential ambition,” Yunusa stated.
He called on Akande and other political figures to focus on addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment, rather than propagating misleading narratives. Yunusa reaffirmed that no amount of misinformation would erase the reality of what transpired during the #EndSARS movement, urging leaders to learn from history rather than distort it.
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