Peter Obi
SharePeter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has slammed Chief Bisi Akande, the former governor of Osun State, over his allegation that the 2020 #EndSARS protest across Nigeria was engineered by the Obidient Movement, Obi’s supporters, to abort the ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
Obi and the Obidient Movement accused Akande of trying to rewrite history, adding that it was insensitive to the memory of the victims of the protests, especially those who died.It will be recalled that the nationwide #EndSARS protest erupted in response to high-handedness of the the notorious police wing called Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The protesters demanded it’s disbandment but later also demanded for good governance.
The protests took a violent turn when protesters clashed with security agents, particularly in Lagos State, where soldiers allegedly opened fire on defenceless protesters at the Lekki Tollgate, killing some of them.
However, Aka declaimed in a recent podcast anchored by a popular broadcaster, Edmund Obilo, that the #EndSARS protest was funded with foreign donations and orchestrated by Obidients to stop Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
“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,” Akande said.“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 organised with a lot of money from America.”
But in an interview with The Punch correspondent, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, described the octogenarian’s claims as misleading and insensitive to the people who died during the protest.
“The allegations are not only misleading but also divisive. It is unfortunate 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,” he said.
“Well, let me be clear: the movement is a grassroots phenomenon that emerged organically, driven by the passion and dedication of Nigerians who are committed to creating a better future for our country. It’s a movement that transcends partisan politics and is focused on promoting good governance, accountability, and inclusive development.
“The #EndSARS protests, on the other hand, were a spontaneous response to the widespread discontent and frustration among Nigerian youth regarding issues of police brutality, corruption, and economic inequality. It’s a testament to the resilience and determination of our young people, who are demanding a more just and equitable society.
“To conflate these two distinct phenomena is not only inaccurate but also unfair to the millions of Nigerians who are genuinely committed to creating positive change. We urge former governor Akande to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that can only serve to further polarise our society.”
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, described Akande’s narrative as an insult to the memory of all #EndSARS victims, particularly those who lost their lives.
He said, “The Obidient movement outright rejects the baseless and revisionist claim by former Governor Bisi Akande. His false narrative is not only an insult to the memory of the young Nigerians who lost their lives in the fight against police brutality but also a desperate attempt to rewrite history and shift blame for the government’s failures.
“#EndSARS was a decentralised, 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.
“Rather than engaging in revisionist propaganda, we urge Akande and his associates to focus on addressing the real issues facing Nigerians today — economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and bad governance. The people are suffering, and no amount of misinformation or historical distortion will change that reality.”
